CNN anchor Anderson Cooper was honored at the GLAAD Awards on Saturday night and openly acknowledged and thanked his partner, nightclub owner Ben Maisani, during his acceptance speech.

Cooper, who accepted the Vito Russo award for openly gay journalists, kept quiet about his sexuality until last July when he wrote an open letter to political blogger Andrew Sullivan.

He accepted the award from Madonna, and said, “Do I have lipstick from Madonna on me?” he joked as he wiped his mouth. “It’s a first. Kissing a woman, that is.”

Anderson Cooper Apologizes to Teresa Giudice

 ”I’m only here because of what others have done — so much more than I will ever do,” he said. “As a gay person, it’s important for me to remember that all of us come from a community whose stories for too long have been forgotten or ignored. …I’ve had so many blessings in my life. Being gay is certainly one of the greatest blessings.”

“It has allowed me to love and be loved, to open my head and open my heart in ways I would have never predicted,” he continued in his heartfelt speech. “The ability to love one another, the ability to love another person is in my opinion one of God’s greatest gifts and I thank God every day for the ability to give and share love with the people in my life. My family, my friends, my partner Benjamin, thank you very much.”

[image: UsMagazine]

Anderson Cooper smoothed things over with Real Housewives of New Jersey star Teresa Giudice Thursday when he invited her back on his daytime show “Anderson” to apologize for calling her out on Wednesday’s episode.

Anderson Cooper Calls Out Teresa Giudice for Bullying on ‘Real Housewives of New Jersey’ Reunion

Cooper confronted Giudice about her bullying on the Bravo reunion special on Wednesday, calling her out for acting like a 12-year-old.

“After I did that interview, someone in the audience, a guy named Bobby who was a teacher, said I had been rude. And it made me really sad that I would have been rude, because I didn’t really want to be rude,” Cooper confessed to Giudice.

After the on-air apology, Giudice told Cooper reality television had ruined her family.  ”I haven’t spoken to my brother in over a year. And I hear that fame ruins a family, and it has ruined my family,” she told the talk show host.

Anderson was a wee-bit confrontational, so I understand why he apologized. BUT….she did deserve it.

[image: WENN]

Real Housewives of New Jersey star Teresa Giudice got a taste of her own medicine Wednesday on the talk show “Anderson,” when host Anderson Cooper called her out for being a bully on the upcoming Bravo reunion special.

Before Giudice came out, Cooper showed a clip of the Housewife telling Caroline Manzo she has three rolls of “blubber” on her stomach.

Teresa Giudice Wants Her Own Reality Show

Cooper went on to explain he doesn’t like her mean girl tactics. Giudice tried to defend herself when Cooper cut her off and said, “I don’t care. You’re not 12 years old.”

Later in the show, Giudice asked Cooper if he watched her season of “Celebrity Apprentice” and he responded saying,  “That I cannot bring myself to watch.”

She deserved every bit of what he gave her! Plus, he’s a Bravo super fan, so he’s justified in telling her he doesn’t like her behavior on the show. Team Cooper.

[image: WENN]

CNN host Anderson Cooper put an end to years of speculation when he finally confessed “I have always been and always will be [gay]” in an open letter to his longtime friend Andrew Sullivan of the Daily Beast.

Anderson Cooper & Secret Boyfriend Ben Maisani Moving In (Photos)

He wrote: “The fact is, I’m gay, always have been, always will be, and I couldn’t be any more happy, comfortable with myself, and proud.”

The anchor never tried to hide his sexuality, but he didn’t have to. It’s absolutely normal. SO, how is this news? Cooper’s statement was quickly approved and congratulated by fellow celebrity tweeters, who sent the anchor public messages of support via Twitter.

Celebrities who also went through the same “coming out” process were the first to show their support. Ellen DeGeneres wrote: “I’m proud of you, @AndersonCooper.” Neil Patrick Harris added: “Good for you, @AndersonCooper. You’re awesome.”

Cooper thanked for all the support on Twitter, saying, “I appreciate all the nice tweets. I am in Botswana working but want to wish everyone a great 4th of July!”

Anderson Cooper Interviews Mom Gloria Vanderbilt On Son Carter’s Suicide (VIDEO)

Nothing changed. Cooper is still the same adorable, smart, sexy, irresistible Silver Fox he was last week. And if Cooper is really happy, then more power to him because most people never get to understand the true meaning of happiness.

[image: Nikki Nelson /wenn.com]

Anderson Cooper is the man! In a moment of absolute clarity, the journalist/author kicked his special guest Sarah Burge, best known as the Human Barbie or Barbie Mom, off his talk show on Tuesday (May 22)- watch video below.

Let me remind you Cooper invited Barbie Mom, who holds the Guinness World Record to the most plastic surgeries, to talk about her work for her charity “Don’t Mess With Me,” which supports victims of domestic abuse.

Anderson Cooper Interviews Mom Gloria Vanderbilt On Son Carter’s Suicide (VIDEO)

When the conversation turned to the way she educates her children, by giving them pole-dancing lessons and plastic surgery vouchers, Anderson stopped trying to engage in a rational discussion with the woman who calls herself the “Human Barbie.”

Cooper tried his best to understand why this so called mom would also encourage her 15 year-old daughter to take Botox injections in order to sweat less during her beauty pageants competitions. He cannot. We cannot. So he basically asks her to leave, calling Barbie Mom “dreadful.”

Cooper cuts her off: “I gotta be honest, I gotta just stop. I’m sorry. I try to be really polite to all my guests, but I just think you’re dreadful. I honestly don’t want to talk to you anymore.”

Later, Cooper apologized to his fans, recognizing it was a bad idea to have that woman as a special guest on his show. He wanted to have an honest discussion, but he felt like it was all a big publicity stunt for her.

Anderson Cooper, you are my own personal hero!

Anderson Cooper Kicks Barbie Mom Off His Talk Show Video go on reading »

Anderson Cooper interviews his 87-year-old mother, actress/author/painter/fashion designer Gloria Vanderbilt, who had a very exciting life marked by the tragic suicide of her 23 year-old son Carter Vanderbilt Cooper back in 1988 (watch interview preview video below).

Anderson Cooper & Secret Boyfriend Ben Maisani Moving In (Photos)

In the interview that airs on Monday (September 19), Gloria recalls that the tragic day Carter decided to take his own life by jumping off the 14th-floor terrace of Vanderbilt’s New York City penthouse apartment.

Snooki Takes Anderson Cooper Spray Tanning

Gloria tells Anderson, “When he went … I thought he was going to come back, but he didn’t. He let go, and there was a moment when I thought I was going to jump over after him.” She adds, “I thought of you and it stopped me from [jumping].”

Anderson, who was only 21 years old at the time, clearly sees his mother as a source of inspiration. “You have survived so many things,” he says. “It hasn’t made you tough. It hasn’t hardened you. You’re still open to experience and open to new loss and open to new heartbreak and to new love.”

Anderson Cooper’s Gloria Vanderbilt Interview Video go on reading »

You heard that right, folks.  The Silver Fox is now…Orange.

Although CNN’s Anderson Cooper once refered to Jersey Shore star Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi as a, “freakishly tan, beer-guzzling, juicehead-hugging, muscle-loving, Botero body, pint-sized money-making machine…” he seems to have resigned himself to the fact that, in the game of TV ratings Snooki is queen – and thus, should be the first guest on his new daytime TV show, Anderson.

Snooks and AC (as I will now lovingly refer to Mr. Cooper) met at New York City’s Beach Bum Tanning.  The frighteningly pale Anderson awaited the MTV starlet’s arrival like a little kid waiting for the school bus on the first day of school.  His face a mix of emotions – excitement, eagerness and of course, a subtle hint of dread.

While AC and his crew got ready for their turn in the spray tan booth, bed, stall – who knows…  Snooki decided that she would take this opportunity to get her teeth whitened.  And why not?  No one else’s time is valuable.  Go ahead, whiten away.

After 20 minutes of waiting, Anderson began the “painting” portion of getting a spray tan, during which, a lovely orange-colored fellow painted on muscles to “accentuate” AC’s naturally buff physique while Snooki looked on, licking her chops.

Snooks and AC closed out the segment by promising to be tanning buddies for life and doing belly shots off each other.  Orrrr, they sort of just said goodbye, in just the way you’d expect – super awkwardly.

CNN Anderson Cooper was one of the victims of an angry pro-Mubarak mob in Cairo, Egipt earlier today, Wednesday (February 2)- more details HERE. The 43 year-old journalist tried to explain the incident on CNN’s American Morning (watch video below).

Anderson Cooper Attacked By Pro-Mubarak Mob In Egypt

“The crowd kept growing and throwing more punches and kicks and trying to grab us,” said Cooper.

“It was pandemonium,” he went on. “There was no control to it. Suddenly, a young man would look at you, and then punch you right in the face. The instinct is to try to punch or push back, but you really can’t in a situation like that. That inflames the crowd even more. All we could do was walk as quickly as possible and stay together and seek a safe location.”

And CNN’s crew found a safe location on the roof of a building near Tahrir Square. Anderson explains the crew was trying to reach a neutral location, where they could do their job, when they were stopped by President Hosni Mubarak’s supporters, who clearly did not want the cameras to capture the moment.

“We were trying to make our way to the no man land,” he said, referring to a neutral location between the opposing groups. “We never made it that far. We were set upon by pro-Muburak supporters punching us in the face.”

He said one attacker “tried to break his [cameraman's] camera… they didn’t want any pictures taken. Frankly, we weren’t even taking pictures with the big camera. I was using a Flip camera, which they didn’t notice.”

“But the big camera – they were trying to grab it. We immediately started to turn around because we realized the situation would get very bad very quickly.”

Anderson Cooper also took to his Twitter to keep his followers and fans updated on Egypt’s situation.

Anderson tweeted, “Got roughed up by thugs in pro-mubarak crowd..punched and kicked repeatedly. Had to escape. Safe now. Its getting really bad in front of egyptian museum.”

“Thanks for tweets of concern..I’m sore and head hurts but fine. Neil and mary anne are bruised but ok too. Thanks. Covering ongoing #egypt violence, and editing video Neil and I shot of the attack on us. #ac360 10p”

Anderson Cooper Attacked in Egypt Video go on reading »

CNN anchor Anderson Cooper was attacked by a mob of President Hosni Mubarak’s supporters in Cairo, Egypt earlier today, Wednesday (February 2). According to CNN producer Steve Brusk, Anderson was “punched 10 times in the head as pro-Mubarak mob surrounded him and his crew trying to cover demonstration.”

The 43 year-old journalist still had the time to cover all the events for CNN’s live blog, describing the attack and their escape to a roof of a nearby building. Anderson claims the mob pushed, shoved and punched the CNN crew in the head, but, fortunately, no one was seriously hurt.

Anderson Cooper & Secret Boyfriend Ben Maisani Moving In (Photos)

In Egypt, the situation is starting to get out of control as violent confronts between protesters against President Hosni Mubarak, who has been in power for more than 30 years, and pro-Mubarak supporters.

[image: wenn.com]

Comedian Kathy Griffin dropped the F-Bomb during CNN’s Annual New Year’s Eve Countdown with Anderson Cooper for the second year in a row on Thursday (December 31, 2009). CNN had to publicly apologize for Kathy’s dirty mouth in a statement, saying they “regret that profanity was used during our New Year’s Eve coverage”.

Kathy and Anderson were discussing the Year’s biggest scandals when Kathy joked about how to pronounce the Balloon Boy’s name, Falcon Heene. “F**king Heene”, Kathy said to which Anderson responded “You are terrible!” (watch video below). But dropping F-bombs was nothing compared to the teasing her co-host about his sexuality and how he needs to “get out of the closet”. Who is CNN kidding? CNN loves Kathy!

Kathy Griffin 2009 New Year F-Bomb Video Below go on reading »

CNN news anchor Anderson Cooper is about to come out of the closet, finally announcing he is gay, proud and looking for a house so he and his gay lover, NY gay bar owner Ben Maisani (photos below), can move in together, according to the National Enquirer.

“Anderson has found his ‘Mr. Right’ in Ben. Their relationship is so solid they want to move in together, and they’ve been looking at Manhattan real estate,” a longtime friend said.

“I’ve seen Anderson have crushes before, but he’s been telling pals that this is the real thing,” said the CNN source. “He plans to sell his condo and move in with Ben. They looked at an old firehouse in Greenwich Village that Anderson wanted to convert into a residence.”

Anderson and Ben first met a few years ago but were reintroduced earlier this year and have reportedly been dating for the last eight months. Anderson feels confident enough about their relationship that he is not one bit concerned about his secret being revealed.

“Anderson firmly believes that media members should keep their personal lives private, but for years he’s dropped hints that he’s gay,” the source said. “Now that he’s with Ben – who is certainly not shy about his sexuality – Anderson is seriously considering publicly acknowledging his sexuality.”

The lovebirds do everything together, share the passion for horror movies, good wine and photography, and have even spent a very special vacation in “a romantic resort in Jaipur, India – the Rambagh Palace – where their opulent $3,200-a-night room had views of the gardens of the former Maharaja palace.”

The 42 year-old, who wanted to be a serious news anchor instead of being labeled the ‘gay anchor’, is finally considering sharing his life with someone (Ben!) and is ready to face the consequences.

Ben Maisani & Anderson Cooper Pictures Below go on reading »