Anderson Cooper and Benjamin Maisani’s Relationship Timeline

Anderson Cooper and Benjamin Maisani may have broken up, but the pair remain best friends.

After meeting in 2009, the television journalist and businessman confirmed their relationship in 2015 with a series of red carpet appearances. Three years later, after much speculation, Cooper announced that he and Maisani had parted ways as romantic partners.

When Cooper welcomed son Wyatt Morgan in 2020, the couple proved that statement true when they decided to co-parent.

“When we were a couple, he wasn’t sure he wanted kids, which was one of the issues we’ve always had,” Cooper told PEOPLE in the first issue of Pride. “But when I decided, ‘I’m just going to do it,’ he became interested.” The former couple announced the birth of their second child, Sebastian Luke, in 2022.

“I’ve always believed that if you’ve been with someone and it ends, in terms of an intimate relationship, if you love someone, there’s no reason why that love shouldn’t continue,” Cooper said of Maisani.

From their world travels to their adventures as co-parents, here’s everything you need to know about Anderson Cooper and Benjamin Maisani’s relationship.

July 2, 2012: Anderson Cooper comes out as gay

Cooper publicly revealed that he is gay in July 2012 in an open letter to his longtime friend, journalist Andrew Sullivan.

“The fact is I’m gay, always have been, always will be, and I couldn’t be happier, more self-satisfied, and prouder,” Cooper wrote.

April 2014: Benjamin Maisani opens up about his relationship with Anderson Cooper

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Although the couple has yet to publicly confirm their relationship, Maisani seemingly addressed the speculation and attention surrounding her during a 2014 appearance on a French talk show. “I understand that people are interested in it, but I’m not interested,” said the French businessman. “Like most people, I never thought about it and never wanted to be a celebrity. I knew I had to be careful from the start before it got out of hand.”

May 9, 2015: Anderson Cooper and Benjamin Maisani attend the 26th Annual GLAAAD Awards

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Cooper and Maisani officially confirmed their relationship when they walked the red carpet together at the 26th GLAAD Awards.

Later that night, Cooper presented his good friend and talk show host Kelly Ripa with GLAAD’s Excellence in Media Award.

November 2, 2015: Anderson Cooper and Benjamin Maisani at the Elton John AIDS Foundation Benefit Conference

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The couple enjoyed a night out together at the 14th annual Elton John AIDS Foundation benefit in New York. They showed off some rare PDA and walked the red carpet hand in hand.

December 17, 2016: Anderson Cooper and Benjamin Maisani Celebrate Christmas with Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos

Cooper and Maisani celebrated Christmas 2016 a few days early with Ripa and her husband Mark Consuelos.

In February 2022, Cooper joked that their son Wyatt was “in love” with Ripa and Consuelos’ daughter Lola.

December 23, 2016: Anderson Cooper and Benjamin Maisani play with puppies in Myanmar

Anderson Cooper’s Instagram

A few days later, the couple headed to Myanmar for a Christmas vacation. In a series of pictures posted on Instagram, the pair could be seen exploring the country and soaking up the sights. One cute photo shows Cooper and Maisani posing while holding a puppy they met at a Buddhist monastery.

May 27, 2017: Anderson Cooper and Benjamin Maisani spend time in Venice

Anderson Cooper’s Instagram

Cooper and Maisani continued their journey with a trip to Venice. Maisani, who studied art history, enjoyed the city’s many museums. “He’s an art expert… I’m a snoozing complainer,” Cooper wrote on Instagram.

July 9, 2017: Anderson Cooper and Benjamin Maisani on vacation in Tahiti

Diane Von Furstenburg’s Instagram

For their next vacation, Cooper and Maisani traveled to Tahiti with some A-list friends, including Bradley Cooper, Irina Shayk, Allison Williams, Diane von Furstenberg and Andy Cohen.

“Part [sic] funniest group ever!” von Furstenberg wrote on Instagram alongside a group photo.

October 27, 2017: Anderson Cooper and Benjamin Maisani talk about collecting art

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Talking to City and country magazine, the couple opened up about building their art collection with the help of the European Fine Art Fair.

Cooper admitted that before he met Maisani, he wasn’t much of an art lover, but that the couple had a strategy for collecting art: “It’s about building a collection that represents who we are.”

Maisani added that they were able to adapt to each other’s personal preferences and style. “Anderson definitely has more of a modern, contemporary sensibility, but after living with my old masters for a few years, he grew to love them,” he explained.

March 15, 2018: Anderson Cooper announces divorce from Benjamin Maisani

After months of speculation, Cooper announced in March 2018 that he and Maisani had split, but that the former couple would remain close friends.

“Benjamin and I broke up as boyfriends some time ago,” he told PEOPLE in an exclusive statement. “We are still each other’s family and we love each other very much.”

April 27, 2020: Anderson Cooper welcomed a son, Wyatt Morgan

After his mother, Gloria Vanderbilt, passed away in 2019, Cooper announced in April 2020 that he had a baby boy via surrogate, Wyatt Morgan. Wyatt was named after Cooper’s late father, Wyatt Cooper.

I hope I can be a good dad like he was, Cooper said on Instagram. “As a gay kid, I never thought having a child was possible and I’m grateful to everyone who paved the way.”

May 5, 2020: Anderson Cooper and Benjamin Maisani announce that they will have a son, Wyatt, together

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Shortly after Wyatt’s birth, Cooper announced that he and Maisani would co-parent him. “He’s my family and I want him to be Wyatt’s family too,” Cooper said at the time.

In February 2022, Cooper announced that Maisani had officially adopted Wyatt and that his new name would be Wyatt Morgan Maisani-Cooper.

“We’re a family,” the CNN anchor said, adding, “Wyatt calls me ‘daddy’ and Benjamin calls him ‘daddy.'”

June 9, 2020: Anderson Cooper talks fatherhood with PEOPLE

In PEOPLE magazine’s first issue of Pride, Cooper opened up about how becoming a father changed his outlook on life.

“It seems to me that my life has actually begun and I kind of ask myself ‘what have I been waiting for?’ ” He said. “I feel invested in the future in a way I didn’t before.”

February 10, 2021: Anderson Cooper says he won’t get back together with Benjamin Maisani

During a virtual performance at The Ellen ShowCooper opened up about co-parenting with Maisani and revealed that the former couple still live together.

When host Ellen DeGeneres pressed Cooper to rekindle his romance with Maisani, Cooper laughed it off, saying, “No, that’s not going to happen.”

June 17, 2021: Anderson Cooper jokes he’s “pissed” at Benjamin Maisani

During the performance at The Stephen Colbert ShowCooper revealed that he missed Wyatt’s first steps while on a business trip and found out about it through a text from Maisani.

“He had to lie and say, ‘Oh no, he’s not walking at all,’ so when I got home and he was walking, we’d be like, ‘Oh my God! That’s the first walk,'” Cooper said.

September 17, 2021: Anderson Cooper and Benjamin Maisani open up about co-parenting

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In an exclusive interview with PEOPLE, Cooper and Maisani got candid about co-parenting. “It’s great. It’s probably an unusual setup, but I knew he was going to be a great dad, and he is,” Cooper said.

Anderson has changed a lot since Wyatt arrived, Maisani added. “He’s happy and relaxed in a way he’s never been before.”

February 10, 2022: Anderson Cooper and Benjamin Maisani announce the birth of their second baby, Sebastian Luke

On February 10, 2022, Cooper and Maisani welcomed their second child, Sebastian Luke Maisani-Cooper. Cooper revealed the happy news on his show, Anderson Cooper 360and also shared the news that Maisani has officially adopted Wyatt.

April 27, 2022: Anderson Cooper and Benjamin Maisani celebrate Wyatt’s second birthday

Anderson Cooper’s Instagram

Cooper shared a rare photo of his entire family on Instagram to celebrate son Wyatt’s second birthday. “He’s sweet and funny, kind and caring. Your dad and brother and I love you sooooo much!” – wrote Cooper in the description.

June 19, 2022: Anderson Cooper and Benjamin Maisani spend Father’s Day in New York

As Cooper celebrated Father’s Day in NYC, he reflected on the loss of his father at the age of 10. Alongside a photo of Wyatt sitting on his shoulders, Cooper shared that while the holiday has always been difficult for him, he found new meaning in the day after becoming a father himself.

“But today I celebrated Father’s Day, remembering my dad, Wyatt, with little Wyatt and Sebastian and their dad, Benjamin,” he wrote. – I can’t believe how lucky I am.

September 26, 2023: Anderson Cooper explains why he and Benjamin Maisani still live together

Victoria Stevens

During an interview with Howard Stern, Cooper confirmed that he and Maisani still live under the same roof.

“He’s my parenting partner,” he said, to Stern’s dismay. “We’re best friends. We’re family. We love these kids.”

When asked how his unconventional living situation affects his relationship life, Cooper shrugged and said, “I’m not dating. I’m happy. I’m having a great love affair with my kids right now. It’s the best thing ever.”

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Source: HIS Education