Anderson Cooper is navigating single parenthood with genuine joy and gratitude. The CNN anchor opens up about raising his two sons while maintaining a strong co-parenting bond with his ex-partner. His approach challenges traditional family structures.
🔥 Quick Facts
- Anderson Cooper shares Wyatt Morgan and Sebastian Luke with ex Benjamin Maisani, both born via surrogate
- Though romantically split since 2018, Cooper and Maisani co-parent successfully and remain close family
- In an exclusive interview with PEOPLE, Cooper stated: “We’re exes, but we’re family to each other”
- The fire station home in New York serves as the family base where Cooper, his sons, and Maisani live together
Co-Parenting as Partners, Not Lovers
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Cooper and his ex-partner Benjamin Maisani ended their romantic relationship in March 2018 after dating for approximately a decade. Despite the split, they transformed their bond into something equally valuable: a functional, loving family unit centered entirely on their children’s wellbeing.
“We’re exes, but we’re family to each other, and we love each other as family and as co-parents,” Cooper shared in his PEOPLE interview. The journalist explained that maintaining this relationship wasn’t just about the boys—it felt naturally right for all three adults involved. Maisani, a businessman and art collector, embraced fatherhood completely.
When Wyatt Came First, Everything Changed
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On April 27, 2020, Cooper announced the arrival of Wyatt Morgan Cooper, his first-born son via surrogate. The CNN anchor was 52 years old when he welcomed parenthood, and he immediately emphasized that Maisani would be Wyatt’s father in every meaningful sense, not just biologically.
In 2022, Maisani formally adopted Wyatt, making the name change to Wyatt Morgan Maisani-Cooper official. “We’re a family,” Cooper declared at the time. Two years earlier, in 2022, the family expanded when Sebastian Luke arrived, cementing their modern family structure even further.
| Child | Birth Year | Legal Status |
| Wyatt Morgan | 2020 | Adopted by both parents |
| Sebastian Luke | 2022 | Legally recognized |
The Fire Station Home Where Family Thrives
Rather than split custody arrangements, Cooper and Maisani chose to live together in New York to co-parent effectively. The couple shares a converted fire station home that serves as the family’s headquarters. This unconventional living arrangement allows the boys constant access to both father figures.
Cooper explained that this situation actually strengthens family bonds rather than complicates them. “He’s my ex, but he’s also my family, and more importantly, he’s Wyatt’s papa,” Cooper has said. The arrangement requires maturity, communication, and shared values—all of which the two former lovers clearly possess.
Finding Joy in the Unexpected Parenting Journey
For decades, Cooper focused exclusively on his journalism career, traveling the globe for CNN. Fatherhood arrived later than he initially expected, yet he describes it as profoundly fulfilling. “It feels like my life has actually begun,” he told PEOPLE about becoming a father, demonstrating genuine gratitude for this life chapter.
The anchor emphasizes that age and unconventional family structures matter far less than genuine love and commitment. Both Cooper and Maisani bring their full selves to parenting. They “bicker” about routine decisions—which any parents do—but unite completely around what matters most: raising emotionally healthy, secure children.
What Can Single Parents Learn from Anderson Cooper’s Parenting Model?
Cooper’s co-parenting arrangement offers valuable lessons for separated couples everywhere. Rather than viewing the end of romance as the end of family possibilities, both men reframed their relationship entirely. They chose to show their children that love takes many forms, and family transcends traditional relationship categories.
The 58-year-old broadcaster demonstrates that modern parenting doesn’t require perfect circumstances. It requires intention, flexibility, and unwavering commitment to the children’s emotional wellbeing above all else. Cooper continues his demanding career while remaining deeply present in Wyatt and Sebastian’s daily lives.
Jessica Morrison is a seasoned entertainment writer with over a decade of experience covering television, film, and pop culture. After earning a degree in journalism from New York University, she worked as a freelance writer for various entertainment magazines before joining red94.net. Her expertise lies in analyzing television series, from groundbreaking dramas to light-hearted comedies, and she often provides in-depth reviews and industry insights. Outside of writing, Jessica is an avid film buff and enjoys discovering new indie movies at local festivals.