Blogs Battle to Out Anderson Cooper

By Brenna Ehrlich Posted Nov 4th 2009 01:06PM

"Is Anderson Cooper gay?" That's the big question once again circulating around the Web ... only this time it's not so much is he, but who is he dating and why hasn't he come out yet. Last week, Gawker, Page Six and Perez Hilton started buzzing about supposedly closeted Cooper's rumored new beau (who, to be fair, Michael Musto has been blogging about for more than a month), and the glut of attention was accompanied by an almost crushing sense of déjà vu. Why? Because Cooper's sexuality is hardly a fresh topic. As Gawker's Brian Moylan said in an October 29th post on the subject: "Saying Cooper is gay is no longer a scoop. It's not a scandal." So, to get to the bottom of A-Coop's long-debated sexuality, PopEater decided to talk directly to those trying to out the Silver Fox. The chats about Cooper's "glass closet" after the jump!

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Anderson Cooper Snapshots

CNN anchor Anderson Cooper is seen here attending the 10th annual New Yorkers for Children fall gala. Click for More Pics of the 'Silver Fox' >>>

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Anderson Cooper Snapshots

NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 23: Anderson Cooper and Joy Behar attend "The Joy Behar Show" launch party at the Oak Room on September 23, 2009 in New York City. (Photo by Michael N. Todaro/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Anderson Cooper;Joy Behar

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NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 23: Anderson Cooper attends "The Joy Behar Show" launch party at the Oak Room on September 23, 2009 in New York City. (Photo by Michael N. Todaro/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Anderson Cooper

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NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 22: Anderson Cooper attends the 10th annual New Yorkers for Children fall gala at Cipriani 42nd Street on September 22, 2009 in New York City. (Photo by Donald Bowers/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Anderson Cooper

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NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 22: Anderson Cooper attends the 10th annual New Yorkers for Children fall gala at Cipriani 42nd Street on September 22, 2009 in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Anderson Cooper

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NEW YORK - JULY 16: Anderson Cooper visits the "Late Show With David Letterman" at the Ed Sullivan Theater on July 16, 2009 in New York City. (Photo by George Napolitano/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Anderson Cooper

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News anchor Anderson Cooper walks outside at the Michael Jackson public memorial service held at Staples Center on July 7, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. Jackson, 50, the iconic pop star, died at UCLA Medical Center after going into cardiac arrest at his rented home on June 25 in Los Angeles, California. Memorial Service For Michael Jackson Draws Thousands Of Fans And Mourners Staples Center Los Angeles, CA United States July 7, 2009 Photo by Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic.com To license this image (57856198), contact FilmMagic.com

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News anchor Anderson Cooper attends Ghetto Film School's 5th annual Spring benefit dinner at Park Cafe on June 15, 2009 in New York City. Ghetto Film School's 5th Annual Spring Benefit Dinner Park Cafe New York, NY United States June 15, 2009 Photo by Charles Eshelman/FilmMagic.com To license this image (57697641), contact FilmMagic.com

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Perez Hilton

Contribution to the rumor mill: Hilton basically re-reported a Page Six piece (which was re-reporting Michael Musto's scoop) that described Coop's Indian vacation with alleged boyfriend, Benjamin Maisani. He did draw a heart on a photo of AC, though, which was very nice.

Why is it important to cover Cooper's sexuality?: "It's not important to cover it, it's just another aspect of who he is. I mean, I don't treat him any differently than I do anyone else," Perez tells PopEater.

Why do people care so much about his romantic life?: "Maybe because he's so secretive about it, it's having a reverse effect. If he just came out, there might not be as much interest. You don't ever really see people talking about Neil Patrick Harris's boyfriend or anything along those lines. You don't see them that often in paparazzi pictures. I mean, sometimes [Harris and his boyfriend] go to events together, sure, but I think if he came out then there would be less interest in his personal life. He would be freer to be himself."

Do you think it's OK for the blogs to out him?: "[The blogs] are not outing him, they're just reporting the facts. That's what I call it, you know. He's just not ever publicly said the words, 'I'm a gay man.' But he's also never said, 'I'm not a gay man.' He's living in a glass closet, so it's all fair game."

Gawker

Contribution to the rumor mill: Brian Moylan's initial post, in which he entreats Cooper to "man up and be our Jackie Robinson," a comprehensive profile of Maisani, pictures and, now, shirtless pictures. In short, Gawker dished a dump truck's worth of dirt.

Why is it important to cover Cooper's sexuality?: "Everybody knows, so why are you keeping up this facade about not talking about it? A lot of people say that it's his private life and he shouldn't have to come out and so on and so forth, but we live in a society, unfortunately, where everyone's assumed to be straight until they said otherwise. I think that a lot of this coverage has to do with the fact that he won't talk about it, and maybe if he just answered the question once and said, 'OK, yes, I'm gay,' then people would stop asking and paying so much attention to who he's going on vacation with and so on and so forth," Moylan tells PopEater.

Why do people care so much about his romantic life?: "I think that there are plenty of gay kids out there who need positive role models and I think that Anderson Cooper would definitely be an excellent one to follow. And I hope that he will show everybody the strength and courage to be an openly gay person in today's society."

Do you think it's OK for the blogs to out him?: "The most recent things we've done haven't outed him whatsoever. He outs himself by going on vacation with his boyfriend. He's a public figure, like it or not, and if he's going to lead the life of a openly gay person, then he is, in fact, outing himself."

Out Magazine

Contribution to the rumor mill: Editor-in-chief Aaron Hicklin's controversial 2007 ''The Power 50' issue cover, which featured a model wearing a Cooper mask and gave us a visual metaphor for the newsman's obfuscated sexuality.

Why is it important to cover Cooper's sexuality?: "I think we need to reach a tipping point, and until more people come out, we're not going to reach a tipping point. The tipping point is about there being enough out mainstream celebrities that it no longer seems unusual or strange or distinct. For better or worse, somebody has to be the first or the second or the third until we get to that point."

Why do people care so much about his romantic life?: "Anderson Cooper is interesting because he so clearly doesn't go to great lengths to hide his sexuality. He's obviously comfortable in his own skin. He's not someone who's waiting to come out to his friends and family. I think that's why people are baffled by the fact that he won't publicly acknowledge his sexuality. That's why he's such a target. That's why so many people are disappointed that he won't make that relatively small step of just acknowledging his sexuality and moving on."

Do you think it's OK for the blogs to out him?: "I think it's really important to draw the line between what we were doing with that piece and the kind of stories you're reading about Anderson Cooper on Gawker and other Web sites. We couldn't care less who Anderson Cooper's boyfriend is. That's not my interest any more than it would be my interest to reveal the private details of someone else's relationship. What my interest is, is to expose what I think of as the sort of phony argument around the closet and outing people. I mean, the concept of the closet and outing is a product of homophobia. The closet and outing people can only exist as long as homosexuality is seen as abhorrent and wrong. And since I don't see homosexuality as abhorrent and wrong I don't have any scruples calling it as I see it. As the editor of a gay magazine, I feel that it's incumbent on us to challenge the sort of preposterous nature around the phony outrage of outing people. I mean, switch homosexuality for religion and you begin to see how ludicrous it is."

Tags: anderson cooper, anderson cooper 360, AndersonCooper, AndersonCooper360, cnn, gawker, gay, perez hilton, PerezHilton

Comments

(538)

Wednesday 04 November

By Doris Sachetti

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Why cant the media gossip mongers keep a lid on their own rumor mills..........It's NONE OF ANYONE'S BUSINESS WHAT SEXUAL ORIENTALTION ANDERSON COOPER OR ANYONE ELSE FOR THAT MATTER IS.

By Robert Reed

Are the lives of these (blogger people) so boring that they "HAVE" to input their lives into other peoples lives? Why do they care so much about other people lives? GET A LIFE OF YOUR OWN AND MAKE SOME REAL MONEY DOING SOMETHING POSSITIVE AND MEANINGFUL TO THE WORLD. Who cares about all these "celebrity" people besides the people that HAVE NO LIFE OF THEIR OWN.......

By Fred

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Queer like perez or not,he's still a lousy reporter....although that would explain why he doesn't like Paris H.

By webbigail1

I've been a fan of Anderson Cooper since his days on Channel 1. I could care less whether he is gay or straight-either way, it doesn't change the fact that he's a damn good reporter. I think it's sad that we live in a country where his sexuality is considered news to some people.

By Hassie

Frankly, Perez is a creep and probably has a crush on Cooper. If he can't have him then he'll be a pest. Anderson Cooper is a great reporter, does a good job and delivers great stories. That is the beginning and end of anything he owes the public. Because he's handsome, people are obsessed with his private life (like they would have a chance with him anyway). Outing people without their consent is sickening. This isn't about faceless gay kids that need role models; it's about greedy, insensitive reporters and gossips with their own axes to grind. His sexuality is not and should not be anyone's business but his own. So many people looking for a life! Gosh! Pathetic! But what do you expect.....?

By Blu

What a disgusting pig Perez Hilton is. It is none of his business or any one else’s. I had never heard of this guy before the Miss America Pageant. Whose idea was it to get a fat ugly gay guy to judge women? I will never watch that pageant again. He makes me sick! Mr. Cooper has a right to privacy like everyone else.

By ikekhan

ALL THESE LOW LIFE BASTARDS NEED TO FIND A LIFE OF THEIR OWN!!! NONE OF THEM ARE QUALIFIED TO TELL ANYONE ELSE WHAT THEY NEED TO DO ABOUT ANYTHING PERSONAL. THIS IS ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS. THESE ASS HOLES ARE WORSE THAN THE PUBLIC OPPRESSION THEY CLAIM TO HAVE TO OVERCOME. THE WHOLE POINT OF CIVIL/HUMAN RIGHTS IS THAT YOU ARE FREE TO MAKE THE CHOICES YOU WANT TO MAKE, AND NOT BE HASSLED BY LEGIONS OF SELF-HATING FAGS! THESE DIRTY FAGS MISSED THE POINT!!

By jaybro

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The liberal media, of which Cooper is a champion, has its own agenda - personal and otherwise. That is the issue. Whether Cooper is gay or straight, he is puke.

By susan haswell

I say who cares it is his personal buisness what is the difference? He is an excellent tv commentator and news reporter very talented what is it with people who have to get into everyones buisness and no I am not gay sticking up for gays I beleive everyone has a right to float their boat the way they wish so ong as theeir journey through life does not hurt anyone else Perez Hilton is shallow must have nothing else creative to do at the moment get a life

By Joanne

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AC is great at what he does for us which is reporting the news. I watch him for that reason. What he does in his private life is none of our business. I am only concerned with how he does his job of reporting the news, which I happen to think he does well.

By Diedra

Who CARES!!! When will people stop worrying about who is gay or straight? Why can't we accept people and get along, instead of always trying to "OUT" someone? Get a life!!

By marshall

My gaydar says he is straight. A yuppy nerd,but straight. His mom is way cooler. PS Pontiac Firebirds are cooler than non sport BMWs.

By Debbie

SICK AND PATHETIC!!! MAY NOT BE NOBODY'S BUSINESS BUT IT SURE WILL BE GOD'S BUSINESS AT THE END OF TIME. CAN ANDERSON NOT GET A WOMAN? PEOPLE SAY THEY DON'T CARE AND HE IS A GOOD REPORTER. SO WHAT? DO YOU NOT THINK THAT ACTIONS SUCH AS THIS IS NOT BRINGING ON THE END OF TIME? GET REAL!! WHAT A WORLD TO BRING CHILDREN UP IN. YOU EITHER HAVE GAYS, LESBIANS, RAPISTS, MURDERERS, SCAM ARTISTS, ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS, ETC... GOOD GRIEF!!

By Royal

Amen AAAAANMMMMMMMMEEENNNN lets burn em all...their witches.....aerrrrggghhhhhh demons ...... ...EEEEvvvvvvviiiiiillll....eeeeeevvvviiiilllll
wait its the 21st century you say ..we live in a republic where people have rights that outweigh neolithic red neck phobias......eeeeevvvvviilllll
...there are no demons or evil spirits....privacy...and whats this constituional government thing eeeeevvvvviiiilllllll

its ignorant to care what peole do in their private lives you say...ooohhh well their still evil right

By desertbo

Anderson Cooper is another left wing nutjob. How is he going to be not biased on issues that directly affect Homosexuals. Does he gather the news from Gay bars. Or just whisper in the ear of his hairy, girly boy friend?

By usher

That is the big problem with American's. low I.Q...nosy....evil....vicious..and very destructive.
I cannot blame this man for keeping his mouth shut....your country will destroy anybody they do not agree with....typical american and it is know throughout the world....a downrigt dangerous nation.

By Deidra

I would be WAY MORE concerned about all these pervs, and child molesters out there because most of them are straight.

By camdevnika

Private life means...PRIVATE Jeez if people are shagging goats and happen to be famous it's still NOBODYS business. If they are a child abuser or molester if they beat on their loved ones this would concern me. Why do heterosexual celebs not take any heat for keeping their love lives private? I wish people would get so up in arms and use all the energy wasted on famous people gossip towards something that is important to the universe such as wars, genocide, famines i.e. boring stuff. The only reason I would care if Anderson Cooper is gay is the fact I could never get a date with this brilliant human!

By Annie

There use to be a time in this country where we respected others and stayed the hell out of their lives. Now unless one knows everything about someone else they can't sleep at night. We have become a nation of budinski's.

By masa

Yes, Homosexuality is not only wrong but an ABOMINATION and if animals know it (nobody ever saw a male dog mate with a male dog neither a female dog with a female dog) and that goes for all animal kingdom, I wonder why humans who are supposed to be more superior in intellect don't get it.

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