Congratulations Abound!

Anderson Cooper Receives Support From Ellen DeGeneres, Neil Patrick Harris and More

Celebrity News July 2, 2012 AT 7:15PM
By UsWeekly Staff.


Anderson Cooper on June 23, 2012 in Beverly Hills, California. Credit: Jason Merritt/WireImage

Shortly after Anderson Cooper came out on Monday, stars took to their Twitter accounts to share their support and congratulate him.

The 45-year-old award-winning CNN journalist and talk show host wrote an open letter to political blogger Andrew Sullivan on Monday, stating, "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."

And his friends are also very proud of him.

Neil Patrick Harris tweeted, "Good for you, Anderson Cooper. You're awesome." And Ellen DeGeneres agreed, writing, "I'm proud of you, Anderson Cooper."

Cooper's CNN New Year's Eve co-host Kathy Griffin shared a photo of the two together lounging in the sun holding hands. "Here I am with my friend Anderson Cooper," she tweeted, "who I'm so proud of."

In his letter, the Anderson Cooper 360 host explains why he has never publicly commented on his sexuality. "In my opinion, the ability to love another person is one of God's greatest gifts, and I thank God every day for enabling me to give and share love with the people in my life," he wrote. "I still consider myself a reserved person and I hope this doesn't mean an end to a small amount of personal space. But I do think visibility is important, more important than preserving my reporter's shield of privacy."

Read more tweets of support from Cooper's star friends below.

Kelly Ripa: "So proud of you, Anderson Cooper. Always have been, always will be."

Joan Rivers: "Thrilled Anderson Cooper came out! So, that's why he never wanted to date me! I would've loved having Gloria Vanderbilt as my mother-in-law."

Josh Groban: "Wait, I'm sorry I only get my news by creeping up behind water coolers with an iPod in my ears. Anderson Cooper is Gaelic?"

Zach Braff: "Personally I think Anderson Cooper is lying. The silver fox is straight as hell and just trying to jump on the Clay Aiken bandwagon."

Lance Bance: "A letter from Anderson Cooper. What a classy guy."

Mia Farrow: "In a better world a persons sexuality would be irrelevant."

Jesse Tyler Ferguson: "One of the reasons I look up to my friend Anderson Cooper is his amazing eloquence. Very proud of him!"

Andy Cohen: "Well put, Anderson! Mazel"