Anderson Cooper and his ex-boyfriend, Benjamin Maisani, have a special bond that goes beyond romance. They share two children and have made co-parenting work despite no longer being a couple.
Anderson lives in a fire station he converted into a cozy home, and that’s where he raises his sons. He has transformed the old firehouse into a warm and loving home, making it the perfect space for his kids.
On February 10, 2022, Anderson was on his “Anderson Cooper 360” program when he proudly announced the birth of his second child, a son named Sebastian Luke Maisani-Cooper. “This is Sebastian Luke Maisani-Cooper,” Anderson said, his voice filled with excitement.
“He was 6.8 pounds at birth, and he’s healthy and happy. Even his occasional hiccups are adorable to me.” Anderson, always the proud father, took a moment to thank the doctors and nurses who helped bring his son into the world, along with the surrogate who carried him.
He acknowledged her and her family for the love and sacrifices they made during the process.
Anderson was no stranger to sharing big news about his children on air. Two years earlier, he had made a similar announcement about his first son, Wyatt Morgan Cooper. Anderson shared that his older son had already bonded well with his new little brother.
“They seem to be getting along really well,” Anderson said, with a smile. “Sebastian sleeps a lot, so Wyatt calls him ‘Luke,’ and every morning he goes to say ‘Good morning, Luke.’”
After welcoming his second child, Anderson took some time off to enjoy those early precious moments with his sons. “It’s great to be able to come home and decompress,” Anderson shared before going on paternity leave. He also opened up about his favorite part of being a father: “Every night, I get to feed Wyatt and give him his milk.
He falls asleep on my chest, and there’s nothing better.” The father-son bonding moments didn’t stop there. Every morning, Anderson and the boys had a little ritual. They’d head to the diner, and Wyatt and Sebastian would love to swim.
Anderson made sure his sons were ready for their afternoon nap by reading to them until they fell asleep in his arms.
Wyatt and Sebastian also enjoyed playing together, and sometimes they’d use toys Anderson had kept from his childhood. Anderson loved watching their relationship grow. “It’s incredible to see them together,” he said with pride.
“They play so well with each other.” As their father, Anderson’s heart swelled seeing the bond between his sons. Benjamin, the businessman who owns a nightclub, was also an active and devoted father.
He’d been co-parenting with Anderson since Wyatt was born, and even though the two weren’t in a romantic relationship anymore, they still considered themselves family.
Anderson explained, “We’re a family. We’ve always been. We’re co-parents.” Even though they had separated in 2018, Anderson was clear about how important Benjamin was to him and their children. “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 too.” Benjamin, who spoke French to their sons, had a natural way with them. Anderson proudly shared, “We’re co-parents. We’re a family.” He even said that Benjamin had legally adopted their first son, Wyatt, who called him “papa.” Wyatt had his own special name for Anderson too: “daddy.”
As the family grew, Anderson shared that he was looking forward to a future where both of their children would carry the last name Maisani-Cooper, just like their second son, Sebastian. Anderson had been through a lot in his personal life, but fatherhood brought him joy he hadn’t expected.
In an interview in September 2023, Anderson spoke with emotion about how much he loved being a father. “This is the best time in my life. There is no doubt about it.”
Reflecting on his and Benjamin’s relationship, Anderson recalled their years together. They first started dating in 2009, and by 2015, they publicly revealed their relationship. However, by 2018, they had broken up. Even so, they were determined to keep the family unit strong.
Anderson once shared, “It’s probably an unusual setup, but I knew he would be a great dad, and he is. We’re exes, but we’re family to each other, and we love each other as family and as co-parents.”
In a February 2021 interview on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show,” Anderson got candid about the changes in his life after having children. He explained how at first, Benjamin wasn’t sure he wanted to start a family, but eventually, he came around.
“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 smiled as he spoke about how much Benjamin had grown into the role of being a father.
In June 2020, Anderson gave fans a glimpse into his home, which he had lovingly restored after buying the fire station in 2010. It had taken years of work, but Anderson was proud of how it had turned out. His home was a reflection of his personal history, filled with memories and meaningful items.
He showed off the nursery he had created for Wyatt, filled with blue tones, old toys, and personal family mementos. He even had a painting of his late mother, Gloria Vanderbilt, displayed in the room. The home was filled with history, and Anderson explained that he wanted everything in it to have a deep, personal connection.
As he walked through his firehouse home, Anderson shared the significance of the items around him. He spoke about the Victorian calendar he had inherited from his mother and explained how it had a special meaning to him, especially since it marked the day his brother Carter tragically passed away.
“I didn’t want to let go of everything after I got rid of her apartment,” he shared. Anderson’s home was not only a place where he raised his sons but a place where his family’s memories lived on.
.@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
.@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 everything—loss, love, and change—Anderson has found happiness in fatherhood. He and Benjamin may not be in a romantic relationship anymore, but they have built something just as strong: a family. And Anderson, with all his heart, knows that this is the best time of his life.
