No official statement. No announcement. Just one subtle shift behind the scenes — and the media world is already bracing for what could be a game-changing departure. Is a silent exit already in motion, scripted far from the newsroom lights?
It’s the end. Whispers are turning into headlines as Anderson Cooper makes a bold and unexpected move—hiring one of Hollywood’s most powerful agents, a step that has many wondering if the CNN anchor is preparing to walk away from the network that made him a household name. Could this mean Cooper is plotting a pivot to streaming, film, or something even more dramatic? For a journalist who’s covered wars, disasters, and elections, this next chapter might be his most unpredictable yet.
Find out what’s fueling the exit talk and what Cooper’s next move could be.
Anderson Cooper has hired a reputed Hollywood “super agent” — a sign that the CNN anchor, said to be pulling down an annual salary of $18 million, may exit the struggling cable network amid looming cost cuts.
Cooper, the 58-year-old son of the late fashion designer and railroad heiress Gloria Vanderbilt, is ditching his longtime agent United Talent Agency in favor of Creative Artists Agency and its top deal broker Bryan Lourd.
News of Cooper’s move was reported on Tuesday morning by the news sites Semafor and Variety. A CNN spokesperson declined to comment. CAA has also declined to comment.
Anderson Cooper has hired a new agent — sparking buzz that the CNN anchor may be mulling a new chapter in his career. CNN
The Post left a message on Lourd’s voicemail seeking confirmation of the Variety and Semafor reports.
The decision to switch agents and hire Lourd is significant given that the CAA rep’s client roster leans more toward Hollywood’s elite than traditional broadcast journalists, according to Variety.
Lourd has offered his services to A-list stars such as Scarlett Johansson, George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Charlize Theron and Daniel Craig.
Cooper’s shift in agencies has raised questions about whether the anchor may be preparing to expand his portfolio — or possibly exit the network altogether — as the traditional TV news model faces mounting financial pressures.
The former war correspondent has diversified his media presence over the years. In addition to anchoring “Anderson Cooper 360” on CNN, he contributes to CBS’s “60 Minutes” and previously guest-hosted “Jeopardy!”
He was also once considered for a permanent role alongside Kelly Ripa on Disney’s syndicated morning show “Live.” These side gigs have given Cooper room to stretch beyond hard news, and his latest agent switch suggests there may be more evolution ahead.
Bryan Lourd is the top agent at Creative Artists Agency. Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue
Industry observers told Variety that Cooper’s timing comes as networks across the board are cutting costs and rethinking their talent strategies.
Cooper’s bosses at media conglomerate Warner Bros. Discovery, which oversees CNN, is restructuring to separate its TV networks from its streaming and production businesses, a move analysts say could position the cable channels for a future sale.
Earlier this month, WBD CEO David Zaslav announced the split. He has assigned his “slash and burn” chief financial officer, Gunnar Wiedenfels, the task of looking for ways to slash costs when he takes over CNN and other cable assets under the umbrella of a new company called Global Networks.
Hollywood starlet Charlize Theron is among Lourd’s A-list clients. Getty Images for LVMH x Vogue x NBC
Last week, Puck News reported that Cooper’s hefty salary — which is said to be more than five times that of fellow primetime host Kaitlan Collins despite the fact that they generate similar viewership numbers — could be in Wiedenfels’ crosshairs.
CNN has refused to confirm Cooper’s salary. The network has also disputed the figures that have been reported in the press. The Post has sought comment from Cooper.
Many veteran anchors have been let go or asked to take pay cuts. Chris Wallace exited CNN while Cooper’s former colleagues Don Lemon, Jim Acosta and Alisyn Camerota have all departed key roles.
Lourd’s roster of clients also includes Scarlett Johansson. AP
Cooper’s own longstanding deal with CNN reportedly dates back to 2016, when he signed a multiyear extension believed to last at least five years. That contract was widely interpreted as CNN’s way of locking him down and keeping him from joining ABC’s morning show.
In recent years, Cooper has grown his profile through a podcast on grief and his recurring New Year’s Eve broadcasts with Andy Cohen, which have become a hallmark of CNN’s holiday programming.
Meanwhile, the parent companies behind these news operations are undergoing significant transformations. Paramount Global, which owns CBS News, is in the process of merging with Skydance Media, a deal that includes $1.5 billion in planned cost reductions — on top of $500 million already slashed.
At Comcast, NBCUniversal is spinning off many of its cable assets, putting MSNBC and CNBC on a different track from NBC News.
News
SHOCKING FATHER’S DAY SURPRISE: Johnny Joey Jones Receives Heartfelt Gift—A Custom Pocket Watch That Honors His Heroic Journey and Sparks $22,000 Fundraiser!
On the morning of Tuesday, June 17, 2025, at 01:36 PM +07, the small town of Huntsville, Alabama, glowed under…
SHOCKING HEALTH UPDATE: Sandra Smith Reveals Family’s Heartbreaking Cancer Battle—And The Jaw-Dropping News That Left Viewers In Tears!
In a world often weighed down by challenging news, moments of hope and resilience shine brightly. On June 20, 2025,…
Trey Yingst Reports Through Heartbreak After His Mother’s Passing—How Did He Push Through Such Tragedy?
Trey Yingst’s parents’ nationality is American. Trey’s grandmother, Mary Margaret Yingst, is American, which suggests that Trey’s mother, Debbie was American….
SHOCKING ACT OF KINDNESS: Pete Hegseth Drives 4 Hours Through the Night to Save a Fellow Veteran’s Life—What Happened Next Will Leave You SPEECHLESS
In an extraordinary display of empathy and commitment, Pete Hegseth, Fox News personality and Army veteran, demonstrated what true brotherhood…
SHOCKING MOMENT – Amy Robach’s College Football Post Sparks Heated Debate: LOVE for Georgia or UNFAIR BIAS?
In an unexpected turn, Good Morning America host Amy Robach has sparked an intense and divided debate about bias and…
SHOCKING REVEAL: Rob Marciano BREAKS SILENCE After Mysterious Exit—The Truth Behind His Departure from ABC Will Leave You SPEECHLESS!
In a stunning turn of events, Rob Marciano’s departure from ABC News has ignited a firestorm of controversy, leaving viewers,…
End of content
No more pages to load