Anderson Cooper Consoled By Kelly Ripa In Croatia Over Breakup? (PHOTOS)
Anderson Cooper released a photo on Twitter of himself smiling with talk show host Kelly Ripa on Wednesday, Aug.15.
Ripa is reportedly consoling Cooper in Croatia because the daytime talk show host is devastated from his break-up with Ben Maisani. The CNN anchor severed ties with the club owner and flew to Europe after Daily Mail posted exclusive images of Maisani kissing and holding hands with another man on Sunday, Aug. 12.
"Anderson was furious when he saw those photos. They caught him completely off-guard," a source told The National Enquirer. "Anderson's shattered. He felt secure enough with Ben that he took the bold step of coming out as gay this year."
Despite Maisani being around attractive gay men at Eastern Bloc, the gay bar he owns in New York City, Cooper "believed he could trust Ben to stay faithful to him." The 45-year-old has ended their engagement and cancelled their rumored September wedding, according to several reports.
Life & Style reported that Cooper and Maisani were already on vacation in Croatia when the photos surfaced.
"Anderson was with Ben in Croatia when he was told about the photos," a source told the magazine. "They were on a yacht. They flew to Croatia on [Saturday] August 11, one day after the photos were taken. Anderson's upset - who wouldn't be?"
Last month, Cooper came out with an open letter to Daily Beast, saying, "The fact is, I'm gay, always have been, always will be, and I couldn't be more happy." The letter did not address Cooper's relationship status with his then boyfriend Maisani, but he did write "I love, and I am loved,"
Maisani, 39, lived with Cooper in his converted fire station townhouse. The couple has been spotted out together as far back as 2008.
The National Enquirer reported that the couple was encouraged to marry by Anderson's mother, fashion designer Gloria Vanderbilt.
