Anderson Cooper and his ex-boyfriend, Benjamin Maisani, are raising their two children together, despite no longer being romantically involved. The two men share a unique and loving co-parenting arrangement. Their children live with Anderson, who has made his home in a converted fire station.
On February 10, 2022, Anderson excitedly announced the arrival of his second child during his “Anderson Cooper 360” show on CNN. The newborn, a boy, was born to Anderson and his former partner, Benjamin.
Anderson introduced his son to the world, saying, “This is Sebastian Luke Maisani-Cooper. He was 6.8 pounds at birth, and he’s healthy and happy, even his occasional hiccups are to me adorable. He mostly just sleeps, and eats and poops, but he already seems like a wise and thoughtful little champ.”
Anderson also took a moment to thank the nurses, doctors, and especially the surrogate mother who had carried his son.
He expressed deep gratitude for the surrogate’s love and sacrifice. It was a similar situation when Anderson first became a father in 2020, announcing the birth of his first child, Wyatt Morgan Cooper, on air.
Benjamin is a businessman who owns a nightclub called “Eastern Bloc.” He was once part of the bustling New York City nightlife scene, where he developed connections with many celebrities. While it’s not clear if Anderson ever frequented the bar, his close friend Andy Cohen was known to visit often.
Anderson and Benjamin had been in a relationship for many years, but after their breakup in 2018, they continued to co-parent. The two men welcomed their second son, Sebastian, in 2022, and Anderson was thrilled to share the news.
During a February 2022 interview on “Live with Kelly and Ryan,” Anderson described how his first son, Wyatt, was adjusting to life with his baby brother.
He shared, “They seem to be getting along really well. I mean, ‘Getting along well’ — Sebastian sleeps. He can’t say Sebastian yet, he calls him Luke. So every morning he wants to go say ‘Good morning, Luke.’”
It was clear that the bond between the two brothers was already starting to form.
As a loving father, Anderson also shared the special routines he had with his sons. After Sebastian’s birth, Anderson took three weeks off to spend time with him, calling it a much-needed break to bond with his boys. He told Ryan Seacrest and Kelly Ripa, “It’s great to be able to come home and decompress.”
He also mentioned how special it was to care for Wyatt every night, saying, “And every night to be able to feed Wyatt and give him his milk, he falls asleep on my chest, and there’s nothing better.”
In the mornings, Anderson and his children enjoy a routine of visiting a diner before spending time swimming. He enjoys reading to them before they take their afternoon naps.
Wyatt and Sebastian have a playful, loving relationship. Anderson said that watching their bond grow was “incredible” to witness. The older brother, Wyatt, also shares a unique connection with Benjamin. The two boys call him “papa,” while Anderson is known as “daddy.”
Benjamin had already begun the legal process of adopting Wyatt, and once completed, Wyatt’s last name would reflect both of his parents’ names, just like Sebastian’s. Anderson often shared with the public how smoothly their co-parenting arrangement worked.
Even though he and Benjamin were no longer together as a couple, Anderson said, “We’re a family.” They both wake up early to care for the boys and enjoy spending the first few hours of the day together. Benjamin also speaks French with their sons, adding another layer of love and connection to their family life.
In an interview in September 2023, Anderson expressed how joyful fatherhood had made him, saying, “This is the best time in my life. There is no doubt about it.”
Anderson and Benjamin’s love story began in 2009, and they went public with their relationship in 2015. However, by 2018, they had separated. Despite no longer being in a romantic relationship, they remained close, and Anderson was open about how their family remained intact.
He explained, “Maisani is going to be a co-parent to Wyatt even though we’re not together anymore. He’s my family, and I want him to be Wyatt’s family as well.”
In 2021, Anderson admitted on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” that when he and Benjamin first discussed having children, Benjamin wasn’t sure he wanted to start a family. But things changed, and Benjamin embraced fatherhood.
Anderson shared, “He wasn’t really sure he wanted to have a kid—which is one of the reasons we probably broke up—but then, he came around to the idea. Now he is such a great parent.”
Anderson also gave fans a peek into his life at home in 2020, when he showed off the firehouse he had converted into a beautiful, family-friendly space. The home was a project he worked on for years, and it reflected his personal tastes and memories.
Anderson had spent years restoring the firehouse, a massive 8,240-square-foot property that had originally been built in 1906. He had kept elements of the building’s history, like the brass fire poles and murals depicting the fire station’s past.
His son Wyatt’s nursery was a deeply personal space, filled with meaningful items, including a painting by Anderson’s late mother, Gloria Vanderbilt, and his handprint from childhood.
Anderson’s home also featured treasures like photographs of his late father and brother, and personal artifacts such as an 18th-century Memento Mori statue.
Despite the challenges Anderson has faced in his life, including the tragic loss of his brother Carter to suicide and his mother Gloria in 2019, he has found peace in the joy of being a father.
.@andersoncooper still has newspapers delivered every morning: “I find it comforting" https://t.co/ysiIHeM9Tw pic.twitter.com/QdwgHwwCAX
— The Hollywood Reporter (@THR) September 13, 2018
Anderson has opened up about his grieving process on his podcast, “All There Is With Anderson Cooper,” and has found comfort in speaking about his emotions.
He shared that hearing others open up about their grief, such as his conversation with actress Molly Shannon, helped him feel less alone in his journey. “It has certainly made me feel less alone,” Anderson admitted.
.@THR trails @andersoncooper – the busiest man in TV news – as he bounces back and forth from his West Village firehouse to CNN, interviewing nervous White House staffers, planning trips to hotspots and FaceTime-ing with his old buddy @Andy Cohen https://t.co/qd4bWjkUVa pic.twitter.com/vLXIxYgD9W
— The Hollywood Reporter (@THR) September 13, 2018
Through it all, Anderson’s family remains his center. Even after the end of his romantic relationship with Benjamin, the two men continue to provide a stable and loving home for their children, showing the world that family is about love, connection, and commitment, no matter what form it takes.
