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Anderson Cooper ‘Ready to Walk’ Away From CNN and Reported $18 Million Salary, Says Source

This is from the National Examiner so take it with a huge lump of salt

Sources say Anderson Cooper has one foot out the door at CNN. “Ratings are down,” says one insider, “and Anderson is ready to walk.”

Anderson has called CNN home for 24 years. The shy 58-year-old silver fox who pulls in a reported annual salary of $18 million, per Page Six, had an “epic meltdown” upon learning he was bypassed as moderator for CNN’s primetime presidential debate in favor of colleagues Dana Bash and Jake Tapper.

According to the insider, Anderson is also in a snit over Scott Jennings, 47, becoming a ratings magnet for CNN NewsNight.

“Anderson can’t stand it. Scott’s allowed to rant and rave, while the rest of them are muzzled,” says the insider. “People tune in to see what outrageous thing Scott will say next, and the execs love it.”

Meanwhile, Anderson Cooper 360° has slipped in the key 25 to 54 demographic, and a source says the host “reacted badly” to recent cold-held exec meetings over dwindling viewership.

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by Anonymousreply 103July 10, 2025 1:54 PM

From June 16:

[quote]Cooper has aligned himself with CAA CEO Bryan Lourd, according to four people familiar with the matter, and the selection is being taken as a possible sign that the CNN mainstay may be looking to explore other opportunities

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by Anonymousreply 1July 8, 2025 3:11 AM

I'm sure the nepo baby will be fine.

Sending my thoughts and prayers.

by Anonymousreply 2July 8, 2025 3:12 AM

Probably better to walk away than wait to be fired. I can’t imagine any other network paying him that much though.

by Anonymousreply 3July 8, 2025 3:14 AM

Whatever, Mary.

He's over paid anyway.

And very replaceable.

Miss Cooper should be grateful for even having a job.

by Anonymousreply 4July 8, 2025 3:17 AM

I've cancelled CNN from my cable provider last month. I was no longer able to watch those shows but in fairness, I've never never been a fan of AC, Mister mumbler extraordinaire...euh...when you say...euh...that the...euh...senator is going to...euh...as for Scott Jennings I've seen him once or twice and that was quite enough...smug ass...

by Anonymousreply 5July 8, 2025 3:22 AM

I much prefer Anderson Cooper on 60 minutes than on CNN which I don't watch anymore since I dumped cable. If he keeps his 60 minutes job, I am sure he will be just fine living on his estimated net worth of $200 million.

by Anonymousreply 6July 8, 2025 3:27 AM

Albino nepo.

Next.

by Anonymousreply 7July 8, 2025 3:30 AM

It's time to leave. CNN is circling the drain anyway. Time for a new chapter for him. He has done everything there is to do in broadcast journalism and is coming up on 60 years old. Move on with dignity and your head up, Anderson. You have done great things.

by Anonymousreply 8July 8, 2025 3:32 AM

Going to Fox News?

by Anonymousreply 9July 8, 2025 3:32 AM

Nothing lasts forever. He has a pile of $$$$ and the kids will want for nothing. Besides, he’s an older gay dad like me… keeping his stress level in check is paramount if he wants to be sure to see them grow up. Time to turn and walk away.

by Anonymousreply 10July 8, 2025 3:35 AM

[quote]Anderson recently hired Hollywood power agent Bryan Lourd, which industry regulars see as a sign Anderson ready to jump ship. “It’s clear,” says the insider, “she’s looking to land somewhere else — possibly streaming, books or even politics.”

The insider referred to Anderson as "she".

by Anonymousreply 11July 8, 2025 3:36 AM

[quote] Going to Fox News?

He's going to take Deborah Norville's old job on Inside Edition, since she has retired.

by Anonymousreply 12July 8, 2025 3:37 AM

18 million?

Does he still claim to not believe in leaving money to children now that he has two?

by Anonymousreply 13July 8, 2025 3:44 AM

[quote]I'm sure the nepo baby will be fine.

What a fucking idiot. Just fuck off with this nepo baby shit. It's old and tired, like you.

by Anonymousreply 14July 8, 2025 3:59 AM

He's got no worries with all that family money he's sitting on.

by Anonymousreply 15July 8, 2025 4:15 AM

I don't care much for Anderson, but there was no Vanderbilt family money left. Just connections .

by Anonymousreply 16July 8, 2025 4:20 AM

🎵 I’m walking away

by Anonymousreply 17July 8, 2025 4:26 AM

🎵 I’m walking away

by Anonymousreply 18July 8, 2025 4:26 AM

David* stupid reply went twice my fingers ain’t that fast

by Anonymousreply 19July 8, 2025 4:26 AM

R14 = Andy Cohen. It’s that obvious.

by Anonymousreply 20July 8, 2025 4:27 AM

R12 Inside Edition's new host is Eva Pilgrim (leaving sinking ship GMA3). Anderson Cooper is better on 60 Minutes, and his CNN show has never been a ratings success. Having Scott Jennings on was enough for me to give up entirely on CNN.

by Anonymousreply 21July 8, 2025 4:34 AM

[quote] Anderson Cooper is better not on television.

FIFY.

by Anonymousreply 22July 8, 2025 4:38 AM

[quote] there was no Vanderbilt family money left. Just connections

That is literally the definition of nepotism.

Anderson is the DEFINITION of a nepo baby.

by Anonymousreply 23July 8, 2025 4:43 AM

Pissy Albino. Worthless as tits on a nun. Our community could have much better representation.

by Anonymousreply 24July 8, 2025 4:45 AM

He doesn’t really bring much to the table. He could be replaced at CNN by literally anybody.

by Anonymousreply 25July 8, 2025 4:45 AM

But who will do CNN's New Year's Eve show????

Oh, the HUMANITY!!!!

by Anonymousreply 26July 8, 2025 4:47 AM

Anderson is so wimpy, pampered and translucent. He’s probably never had a honest callous on his hands other than the tiny ones he developed jerking off to Antonio Banderas films. I don’t think he could bench press a broomstick. It’s so pathetic to see a “man” who looks like he would lose an arm-wrestling match to Lesley Stahl.

by Anonymousreply 27July 8, 2025 4:53 AM

CNN seems to think its people are stars. Does anyone want to look at Wolf Blitzer or Anderson Cooper ever again? Good riddance. He has about as much appeal as Chuck Schumer at this point.

by Anonymousreply 28July 8, 2025 5:17 AM

Pity.

by Anonymousreply 29July 8, 2025 5:22 AM

I didn't know Aaron Brown died. I must have missed the dead to me thread (if there was one.)

by Anonymousreply 30July 8, 2025 5:49 AM

Nepo baby indicates nepostism was involved in his career track and I don't recall either one of his parents being journalists or broadcasters.

His father was a writer. And, his mom was a designer who was famous for being a Vanderbilt and the subject of a nasty custody battle when she was a child.

I don't think Gloria had the kind of clout to call up CNN and get Anderson his job.

Did she offer them free jeans for life?

by Anonymousreply 31July 8, 2025 5:55 AM

He’s the only CNN host I like!

by Anonymousreply 32July 8, 2025 6:48 AM

[quote]Anderson is also in a snit over Scott Jennings, 47, becoming a ratings magnet

How can anyone like Scott Jennings? He is a total Trump butt-kissing asshole who is always trying to shout over everyone. SJ is one of the reasons I sometimes turn off CNN.

by Anonymousreply 33July 8, 2025 7:21 AM

WHET to Bernard Shaw and his porn moustache?

by Anonymousreply 34July 8, 2025 7:22 AM

Fuck CNN. It's basically FOX News -lite now anyway...

by Anonymousreply 35July 8, 2025 7:26 AM

R34, Bernard Shaw died 3 years ago at age 82.

by Anonymousreply 36July 8, 2025 7:29 AM

contributed less to society than a Starbucks barista

by Anonymousreply 37July 8, 2025 7:53 AM

He's ok in disaster zones and with victims of various things but with politicians and the like he isn't really aggressive enough... hence him not getting the presidential debate gig.

by Anonymousreply 38July 8, 2025 8:08 AM

[quote] Anderson Cooper ‘Ready to Walk’

Gurl, BYE!

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by Anonymousreply 39July 8, 2025 8:21 AM

He asked "is he always like that", after President Biden lost his train of thought during the debate.

Orange screamed " dey eatin dawgs" during the next debate and 🦗 .

by Anonymousreply 40July 8, 2025 8:29 AM

Scott Jennings is a very hard looking 47.

by Anonymousreply 41July 8, 2025 8:51 AM

I discovered DL by googling "anderson cooper gay". And now I'm here, almost a quarter of a century later, wanting to throw his privileged nepo ass into a volcano.

by Anonymousreply 42July 8, 2025 8:52 AM

kathy! griffin!

by Anonymousreply 43July 8, 2025 9:01 AM

Wait, Scott Jennings is younger than Ashton Kutcher, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Candance Cameron, Tom Welling, and James Van Der Beek?!?

by Anonymousreply 44July 8, 2025 9:09 AM

Wait, Scott Jennings is younger than Ashton Kutcher, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Candance Cameron, Tom Welling, and James Van Der Beek?!?

by Anonymousreply 45July 8, 2025 9:10 AM

He's rich enough to walk away without the bribe of an NDA, and therefore retain the freedom to dish all the dirt about CNN's embrace of (or capitulation to) MAGA and Trump.

by Anonymousreply 46July 8, 2025 3:55 PM

[quote] Nepo baby indicates nepostism was involved in his career track and I don't recall either one of his parents being journalists or broadcasters.

So predictably disingenuous and obtuse. And so banal and uncreative it sounds like Average Anderson concocted it himself.

His mother didn’t work for a network. His mother rubbed elbows with people who owned networks. She was as connected of a high society person that existed during that time and was surrounded by wealth and influence, including her own.

Vanderbilt. That name carried clout back in the day. She indeed could make a call and get her paper-white kid a gig that other people with actual talent and no connections could only dream of having.

This counter argument that his parents weren’t in media is so tired and ignorant that it’s laughable. I also remember countless Gloria Vanderbilt ads running on broadcast TV in the early 80s. You think paying networks money to advertise your product doesn’t make a difference?

Anderson’s velvet mafia pals can post these pathetic defenses all they desire but it doesn’t change the fact thst he’s a spoiled, pampered, exceedingly average nepo baby who’s only where he is due to his mother’s connections.

I’m sure Anderson Cooper, t of a schoolteacher and an electrician, would have had the same career track. 🙄

Just own it and stop pretending he’s a worthy talent.

And fuck off, Andy.

by Anonymousreply 47July 8, 2025 4:03 PM

CNN doesn’t care about Anderson. That man-faced Kataleiyn Collins woman is their new “star”.

by Anonymousreply 48July 8, 2025 4:11 PM

Tom Llamas you in danger, gurl.

by Anonymousreply 49July 8, 2025 4:13 PM

[quote] CNN doesn’t care about Anderson. That man-faced Kataleiyn Collins woman is their new “star”.

You WILL love me!

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by Anonymousreply 50July 8, 2025 4:15 PM

“Anderson can’t stand it. Scott’s allowed to rant and rave, while the rest of them are muzzled,” says the insider. “People tune in to see what outrageous thing Scott will say next, and the execs love it.”

Who on earth are these “people”? Scott Jennings is probably the #1 reason I haven’t watched CNN once since the election. I know I am in a bubble, but anyone I know who watches(ed) CNN says similar things. I cannot believe anyone “tunes in” to see him. Besides, I thought ratings were DOWN, thus promoting this whole article in the first place.

by Anonymousreply 51July 8, 2025 4:29 PM

R50 tie it to a spit and put an apple in its mouth. 🐖

by Anonymousreply 52July 8, 2025 6:20 PM

Not only does AC have his family money to fall back on, he also has Ben-the-Corsican-barmaid" billions to keep him afloat. Ben was the gay Donald Trump, a yuge gay land baron.

At least that's what DL "in-the-know" queens were saying about Maisani 20 years ago. Bu that was way before he became AC's nanny.

by Anonymousreply 53July 8, 2025 6:45 PM

Is Kathy still bitter that anderson wouldn't fall on the sword foe her?

She's the leftist version of Roseanne burning images of Sara Gilbert . Everything is other people's fault No accountability taken.

by Anonymousreply 54July 8, 2025 6:48 PM

Dana bash and Jake tapper have destroyed their names with their obvious onair allegiance to Israel. Their ratings have slumped even lower because those two won't even pretend to be impartial .

by Anonymousreply 55July 8, 2025 6:52 PM

R47 And, you're coo coo bananas.

Yes, the lady selling jeans with a "name" (that looks good on paper but hasn't really carried any other clout than that for a good many years) worked her wiles with Ted Turner to get her baby a job he's kept for decades...

Uh, huh.

by Anonymousreply 56July 8, 2025 10:23 PM

Andy Cooper is completely self made.

by Anonymousreply 57July 8, 2025 10:36 PM

R54 I didn’t realize Mrs. Gifford was into fencing.

by Anonymousreply 58July 8, 2025 10:44 PM

He was great as the host of The Mole. Loved that show.

by Anonymousreply 59July 9, 2025 2:44 AM

I can't even remember the last time I watched CNN. And I don't miss it.

I have an antenna.

by Anonymousreply 60July 9, 2025 2:56 AM

He is neither completely self made nor independently wealthy from birth. The Vanderbilt fortune was largely squandered by his grandparents generation. But "no money" for Gloria Vanderbilt was hardly broke.

He was born into the most elite strata of NYC society at the time, and grew up with the privileges and opportunities of the rest of the one percent. He's not so much a nepo-baby as yet another born on third base "success story." The history of the US, and the world, is lousy with guys like that.

by Anonymousreply 61July 9, 2025 3:05 AM

[quote] I've cancelled CNN from my cable provider

You had to pay for CNN!?

by Anonymousreply 62July 9, 2025 3:22 AM

R57 = Anderson

by Anonymousreply 63July 9, 2025 3:23 AM

He's probably always been CIA

by Anonymousreply 64July 9, 2025 3:25 AM

Most respected journalists start by hosting “The Mole.” 🙄

That would have been the kiss of death for anyone else. But mommy made a couple of calls and “60 Minutes” and CNN obliged.

Any self-respecting, non-nepo/silver spoon sucking individual should be sickened by this wimpy twat.

by Anonymousreply 65July 9, 2025 3:33 AM

He doesn't look a bit like his mother. Why did she have a duck as the jeans logo? I just remember them on the back pockets.

by Anonymousreply 66July 9, 2025 4:24 AM

R65 We’ve had this discussion before. The Mole was considered intelligent reality tv. Survivor somewhat too.

by Anonymousreply 67July 9, 2025 5:37 AM

R64, ooh, why do you say that?

by Anonymousreply 68July 9, 2025 6:05 AM

Anderson truly made it on his own with zero media or entertainment connections, Why, don’t most 10-year-olds go to Studio 54 with their mother and Michael Jackson while Liza, Charlie Chaplin and Truman Capote stop by for dinner?

A truly hardscrabble upbringing and a fight to rise to the top.

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by Anonymousreply 69July 9, 2025 11:26 AM

Rich people problems.

by Anonymousreply 70July 9, 2025 11:49 AM

Run, don’t walk.

by Anonymousreply 71July 9, 2025 1:39 PM

I'm afan of Anderson's and if this is true, I'm glad. He doesn't fit in with an imbecile like Scott Jennings. He will do better somewhere. I'm betting he wants to do more 60 Minutes type reporting now . When it comes to wars and natural disasters no one is better than CNN. But their "panels" are garbage. I think they have some damned good reporters. Clarissa Ward, Brianna Kieler, and I love my Omar and Boris. Laura Coates can run circles around all the other "legal analysts" She is brilliant, and I am a huge fan of Abbie Phillips. Actually if they ditch Jake Tapper who I cannot stand, and get rid of Manu and Evan Perez, I am fine with their reporters. They need better producers and editors and they need to get rid of the board interference from the Discovery crew.

Anderson got his start long years ago as a reporter on an very early cable channel in NYC. He also did investigative spots or special news features on his own little program, called The Mole. He may have done a stint at ABC, I'm not sure. But when the fledgling CNN hired him he was a field reporter, covering hard news globally. He was a credible journalist. I can see him wanting to ditch this version of CNN. I bet he goes to Sixty Minutes full time. Personally I think he will find a home either at ABC or CBS.

by Anonymousreply 72July 9, 2025 1:57 PM

His mother didn't leave him a slice of her jeans empire?

by Anonymousreply 73July 9, 2025 2:12 PM

He's always seemed smug and superficial, which made him perfect for CNN. He's unlikely to find a lot of offers. He should try making docs, which a lot of ex-newspeople have done.

by Anonymousreply 74July 9, 2025 2:25 PM

I can see him going after the CBS Nightly News anchor job, or replacing Nate Burleson on CBS Mornings. Maybe even GMA.

Bryan Lourd can get him lots of jobs in the entertainment world.

He certainly wasn't worth the $18 million salary since he was never a big ratings winner.

by Anonymousreply 75July 9, 2025 2:44 PM

I was thinking CBS Nightly myself. Their most recent configuration does not seem to work. AC already has connections to CBS through 60 Minutes.

by Anonymousreply 76July 9, 2025 2:59 PM

His partying on NYE makes him less serious as a news person.

by Anonymousreply 77July 9, 2025 3:18 PM

Anderson looks like he’d get a hernia from opening an umbrella.

What a fucking pussy.

by Anonymousreply 78July 9, 2025 3:23 PM

[quote] Bryan Lourd can give him lots of blowjobs.

FIFY

by Anonymousreply 79July 9, 2025 3:25 PM

He always seemed slightly retarded, like his mother.

by Anonymousreply 80July 9, 2025 3:37 PM

R80 She wasn't retarded. That was drugs.

by Anonymousreply 81July 9, 2025 3:40 PM

[quote]I'm afan of Anderson's and if this is true, I'm glad. He doesn't fit in with an imbecile like Scott Jennings.

No, he fits in with an imbecile like Andy Cohen.

by Anonymousreply 82July 9, 2025 3:44 PM

Scott Jennings is a ratings magnet?? He's why I stopped watching CNN last year. He was just on that one show, he showed up on other shows too.

by Anonymousreply 83July 9, 2025 3:45 PM

He's never anchoring network news. His NYE antics with Andy Cohen have torched that ambition. He's not a very serious journalist, despite his occasional cosplaying as one. Who ever said documentaries is likely correct. He'll do voiceover work for serious, non-fiction productions that need a veneer of "gravitas," and will (continue to, as always) live quite comfortably on that, his savings and his inheritance.

by Anonymousreply 84July 9, 2025 3:58 PM

R84 And Katie Couric was serious?

by Anonymousreply 85July 9, 2025 4:19 PM

Is Katie Couric still anchoring the news, R85? Her lack of serious credentials was widely remarked upon during her short tenure that ended over a decade ago. Your point, if you even have one, is laughable.

The networks have already tried and discarded the idea of hiring anchors from the world of infotainment. It was disastrous both with Couric and when they shoe-horned Connie Chung into Dan Rather's newscast.

by Anonymousreply 86July 9, 2025 4:24 PM

[quote] And Katie Couric was serious?

No, and that’s why now she’s a nobody.

by Anonymousreply 87July 9, 2025 4:25 PM

The suits offered Candice Bergen a role on "60 Minutes" when "Murphy Brown" concluded.

The people who make these decisions are witless assholes.

by Anonymousreply 88July 9, 2025 4:33 PM

[quote]that’s why now (Katie Couric is) a nobody.

Seems to be doing pretty well for herself:

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by Anonymousreply 89July 9, 2025 4:41 PM

Scott Jennings's publicist won't even watch CNN for Scott Jennings. As much I like Boris and Brianna, the rest of the lineup just annoys me. The Pod Save guys, Bulwark, and other podcasts keep me up to date with the news without sane washing Trump. Mainstream news still try to appear objective when reporting, but it's hopeless when you're dealing with the insanity Trump and his minions do daily.

by Anonymousreply 90July 9, 2025 5:38 PM

[quote] Anderson truly made it on his own with zero media or entertainment connections, Why, don’t most 10-year-olds go to Studio 54 with their mother and Michael Jackson while Liza, Charlie Chaplin and Truman Capote stop by for dinner?

What does that have to do with him getting on CNN? Maybe if he wanted to be a singer, Michael and Liza could’ve helped him but they don’t know shit about news.

by Anonymousreply 91July 9, 2025 5:43 PM

I don't get the hostility for Anderson. I am very fond of him and I think he works very hard and has always tried to be a serious journalist. Which is a lot more than I can say about most news readers. If CNN wants to improve their budget they need to dump Jake Tapper. Is is beyond annoying.

by Anonymousreply 92July 9, 2025 7:45 PM

ALLISON COOPER!

by Anonymousreply 93July 9, 2025 7:48 PM

CBS is pandering up the ass trying to get their merger approved. I don’t think 60 Minutes is safe, and there is chatter that even Stephen Colbert might be offered up as a sacrificial lamb to the orange god. I don’t see him wanting to anchor ship there.

by Anonymousreply 94July 9, 2025 8:06 PM

R4 = Kathy Griffin, still bitter

by Anonymousreply 95July 9, 2025 8:13 PM

If it were a year ago I could see ABC or CBS being a new home for him, but CBS is kowtowing to Trump and ABC did too. Network news is dying, and CNN is too.

Not many options left. If he wanted to go the PBS route, perhaps, or do film documentaries. Or he could move into the European market.

by Anonymousreply 96July 9, 2025 8:26 PM

Yes, he should move to CNN International in London.

by Anonymousreply 97July 9, 2025 8:32 PM

R91 You’re obtuse rationalizing and intentional ignorance is embarrassing, Andy. He’s the translucent prince of the nepo babies. And you’re a coked-up midget who destroyed television.

by Anonymousreply 98July 9, 2025 8:57 PM

The Kathy fangurls need to give it a rest. He didn’t have to bow to that hag.

That they’re still so bitter about it years later is sad. Everyone else has moved on.

by Anonymousreply 99July 9, 2025 9:07 PM

If a tree falls in the woods …

by Anonymousreply 100July 9, 2025 9:15 PM

She will never leave CNN. Bitch has lost her charms and no one will hire those old floppy discs.

by Anonymousreply 101July 9, 2025 11:04 PM

[quote] He also did investigative spots or special news features on his own little program, called The Mole.

Not on The Mole - that was a competitive reality show.

by Anonymousreply 102July 10, 2025 11:17 AM

Stories like this will push him out the door sooner.

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by Anonymousreply 103July 10, 2025 1:54 PM
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