On Monday, February 16, Anderson Cooper announced he would depart “60 Minutes” after spending nearly 20 years as a correspondent for the CBS hit. Several fans were disappointed to hear the news. One wrote, “You will be so missed and I wish you the very best in your next adventures.” Another said, “Anderson is one of my favorite journalists. I’m going to miss his stories.”
Why Is Anderson Cooper Leaving ’60 Minutes’?
People says Cooper told them in a statement that he is leaving the show to “spend more time” with his sons. He shares the two boys, Wyatt and Sebastian, with his ex, Benjamin Maisani.
He said, “For nearly twenty years, I’ve been able to balance my jobs at CNN and CBS, but I have little kids now and I want to spend as much time with them as possible, while they still want to spend time with me.”
The 58-year-old welcomed his first son in 2020 with a joyful Instagram message that read in part, “On Monday, I became a father. This is Wyatt Cooper. He is three days old. He is named after my father, who died when I was ten. I hope I can be as good a dad as he was.”
His second son followed in 2022.
The People report points out that Anderson’s exit follows the departures of several other CBS stars, including “CBS Evening News” anchors John Dickerson and Maurice DuBois.
Variety says Cooper was “in negotiations” for renewal in the weeks leading up to the announcement, but ultimately decided to steer his focus towards CNN activities. Fans of the journalist will still be able to listen to him in a few ways, Variety points out. He hosts a popular podcast on discussions around grief called “All There Is,” and a longform CNN documentary series, “The Whole Story with Anderson Cooper.”
Anderson Cooper Previously Discussed What Parenthood Means to Him
People says Cooper previously told them the early years of parenting his young kids are “the best time in my life.” Despite splitting with the boys’ father two years before they were born, Cooper assured fans at the time of the 2018 breakup that the pair would remain close. He explained to People, “We are still family to each other, and love each other very much.” The outlet says he added, “We remain the best of friends, and will continue to share much of our lives together.”
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