Gus Kenworthy says Anderson Cooper has become a father figure to him
Champion Olympic free skier Gus Kenworthy has spoken of his growing friendship with Anderson Cooper, and how the veteran TV anchor has become a “father figure” as his media profile continues to build on and off the ski slopes.
Kenworthy told Rolling Stone he had formed a close bond with the CNN journalist and television news anchor after he publicly came out last October.
“He’s [Cooper] a total sweetheart. He’s sort of turned into a father figure to me,” said Kenworthy.
“He reached out and offered advice after I came out. Basically, he said, ‘if you need anything, just ask. I understand what it’s like to be out in the public eye’.
“He said, ‘you’re a great kid’. So he’s been really supportive.”
The X Games silver medallist also saw in the start of 2016 with Cooper, alongside comedian Kathy Griffin in Times Square New York, where CNN held an outside broadcast ahead of the midnight countdown.
“They arranged for me to be on the show for New Year’s Eve and it was one of the most surreal experiences, to be a skier from a small town and co-hosting a ball drop in Times Square was insane,” he said.
“It was out of the realm of anything I thought was possible. We got to overlook a sea of people. It was completely insane.”
In an exclusive 10-page shoot and interview with Kenworthy in our brand new March Issue – available to download now and in shops today – the Olympic champion reveals how heartbreak helped inspire him to finally go public about his sexuality, recalls the homophobic he used to be confronted with from his friends and fellow competitors, and admits he thinks Russia’s anti-gay laws made it “unfit” to host the Sochi Winter Olympics back in 2014.
Also in Attitude’s March Issue, alongside all your usual fashion, fitness, travel and real life stories:
- We explore gay sex, love and relationships in our Valentine’s Love & Dating special, as we delve into the world of apps, hook-ups, and how to make a relationship last.
- Attitude meets hot young thing and rising star Douglas Booth, who talks equality, his breakthrough gay roles and new film Pride & Prejudice & Zombies.
- Aussie singe-songwriter Josef Salvat discusses sexuality, experiemtation and why as a straight man he’s not afraid to kiss men in his music videos.
- This Book Is Gay author Juno Dawson speaks to Attitude as she begins to undergo her transition, ahead of a new monthly column exploring the best of LGBT culture.
- Sheila Reid has a right ole’ knees-up playing How Gay Are You? as Benidorm returns to UK screens.
The new issue of Attitude is now available as a digital download from pocketmags.com/attitude. It’s in shops today (Feb 3), and print copies are available to order from newsstand.co.uk.
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