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Anderson Cooper arrives at the 2011 CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute held at The Shrine Auditorium on December 11, 2011 in Los Angeles, California© Getty Images

Anderson Cooper recalls shocking conversation with late mom Gloria Vanderbilt as he explored parenthood

The CNN host is a dad of two

Faye James
Senior Editor
September 28, 2023
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CNN host Anderson Cooper has recently divulged a touching and unexpected proposal he received from his late mother, Gloria Vanderbilt, years before he even considered starting a family.

Juggling the responsibilities of fatherhood, with two young children demanding his attention, Anderson looked back on a time when the prospect of parenthood was just a distant thought. The recollection was shared during a September 26 segment on Sirius XM's The Howard Stern Show.

"Anderson," Gloria had begun in her signature mysterious manner, a preamble he jokingly associated with her elaborate interior decorating whims or more eccentric requests, like needing him "to hide a body." However, this particular conversation had taken a completely unexpected turn.

Anderson remembered: "She told me, 'Honey, there's something I really need to talk to you about.'" He playfully added that while he had braced himself for one of her typical whimsical tales, he wasn't quite prepared for what came next.

WATCH WHAT HAPPENS LIVE -- Pictured: Gloria Vanderbilt and Anderson Cooper© Getty Images
Gloria Vanderbilt and Anderson Cooper

"She began by saying, 'I went to the gynecologist the other day,' and keep in mind, my mom was 85 then," Anderson shared. 

"She continued, 'And she told me the most astonishing thing, that I could still bear children.'" The news took him aback. At 56, Anderson highlighted how he's honed the skill of maintaining a composed face, largely thanks to a lifetime of responding to his mother's more outlandish declarations. 

Actor and author Wyatt Emory Cooper, Carter Vanderbilt Cooper, Anderson Cooper, American heiress and socialite Gloria Vanderbilt pose for a family portrait as they play on a bed in their home on March 30, 1972 in Southampton, Long Island, New York© Getty Images
Actor and author Wyatt Emory Cooper, Carter Vanderbilt Cooper, Anderson Cooper, American heiress and socialite Gloria Vanderbilt pose for a family portrait

"I've spent years not reacting to my mom's unique statements," he said, playfully. "So, I just responded, 'That's truly remarkable, Mom.'"

His initial assumption was that Gloria was considering having another child of her own. In jest, Anderson said, "My immediate thought was, 'How can I dissuade my 85-year-old mom from having a baby?' I'm sure we've all been there, right?"

Anderson stood with Wyatt, Sebastian and Benjamin in a garden© Anderson Cooper on Instagram
Anderson with Wyatt, Sebastian and their Papa Benjamin

Gloria then dropped the real bombshell. Rather than having a child for herself, she offered to be a surrogate for Anderson. "I had to tell her, 'Mom, I deeply love you, but this is a bit over the top, even for you,'" Anderson recollected, amused by the audacity and depth of her proposition.

In the end, Anderson and his former partner, Benjamin Maisani, did choose the path of surrogacy. 

Wyatt and Sebastian sat at the foot of a Christmas tree along with several wrapped presents© Anderson Cooper on Instagram
The cute duo at Christmas

Together, they were blessed with two sons—Wyatt in 2020, who's now three, and Sebastian, who's 19 months, born in 2022. Gloria's passing in 2019 meant she did not witness the birth of these two additions to the family, but her legacy of love and eccentricity surely endures in their lives.

Anderson's love for his children is palpable. This year, he celebrated Wyatt's third birthday with a heartwarming Instagram tribute. Posting endearing photos with his sons and alongside Benjamin, he wrote: "Wyatt Morgan Maisani-Cooper turned 3 today! He and his brother Sebastian are the most precious blessings I could've ever wished for."

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