CNN’s Anderson Cooper is the proud father of a newborn baby boy.
Wyatt Morgan Cooper was born on Monday weighing 7 pounds 2 ounces.
Cooper shared photos of Wyatt at the end of Thursday’s televised weekly global town hall on the coronavirus pandemic.
“It has been a difficult time in all of our lives, and there are certainly many hard days ahead,” Cooper said. “It is, I think, especially important in times of trouble to hold on to moments of joy and happiness. Even as we mourn the loss of loved ones, we are also blessed with new life. New love.”
That’s how he introduced his own joyful news: “On Monday, I became a father,” he said. “I’ve never actually said that before, and it still kind of astonishes me. I am a dad. I have a son.”
Cooper, who is gay, said in his on-air announcement that “I never thought it would be possible to have a child, and I am so grateful for all those who have paved the way, and for the doctors and nurses and everyone involved in my son’s birth.” He said he is “eternally grateful to a remarkable surrogate who carried Wyatt, watched over him lovingly, tenderly, and gave birth to him.”
The news came as a big surprise to CNN viewers, as Cooper had not spoken publicly about his plans to have a baby.
Cooper’s father, who died when he was 10 years old, was named Wyatt. Now Cooper is passing the name to a new generation. “I hope I can be as good a dad as he was,” he said during the announcement.
His son’s middle name, Morgan, is a name from the family tree of his mother Gloria Vanderbilt. She died last year.
“I do wish my mom and dad and my brother, Carter were alive to meet Wyatt,” Cooper said, “but I like to believe they can see him. I imagine them all together, arms around each other, smiling and laughing… happy to know that their love is alive in me and in Wyatt… and that our family continues. New life. New love.”
Welcome Wyatt Morgan Cooper! @AndersonCooper‘s son was born on Monday. New life, new love. pic.twitter.com/L3Af2TtYAq
— Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) May 1, 2020