On February 16, the 16-time Emmy Award-winning journalist confirmed that he is ending his tenure at 60 Minutes, where he has contributed for almost 20 years.
“Being a correspondent at 60 Minutes has been one of the highlights of my career,” Cooper said. “I’ve had the privilege of telling incredible stories and working with some of the best producers, editors, and camera crews in the industry. For nearly twenty years, I balanced my work at CNN and CBS, but now I have young children, and I want to spend as much time with them as possible while they want to spend time with me.”
Cooper also hosts a popular podcast about grief and a Sunday program called The Whole Story.
CBS News expressed gratitude for Cooper’s contributions and said, “We understand the importance of spending time with family. 60 Minutes will welcome him back anytime he chooses to return.”
The main reason for Cooper leaving is personal: he wants to focus on raising his two sons, Wyatt and Sebastian. Becoming a father was a life-changing experience for him. As a child, Cooper knew he was gay and worried he might never have children.
In April 2020, Cooper publicly announced the birth of his first son, Wyatt Morgan Cooper, who was born via surrogate. Wyatt’s middle name honors Cooper’s father, who passed away when Cooper was ten. Cooper also expressed gratitude to the surrogate and her family, describing them as an extraordinary blessing.
Just a week after Wyatt’s birth, Cooper shared that he and his former partner, Benjamin Maisani, would co-parent the child together. In 2022, they welcomed their second son, Sebastian Luke. Despite no longer being a couple, Cooper and Maisani continue to co-parent amicably.
Cooper has expressed a desire to be the best parent possible and is open to the possibility of more children, though nothing is planned at the moment. He has described these early years of fatherhood as “the best time in my life,” full of joy, tenderness, humor, and wonder.
Fans and readers are encouraged to celebrate Cooper’s dedication to family and share in the joy of parenting.
