TL;DR
- Andrew Rannells dated Anderson Cooper briefly at 25.
- Their romance inspired Rannells’ character on Girls.
- Cooper’s character Dill Harcourt mirrors him.
- Rannells confirmed the relationship on a podcast.
- Fans speculated about Dill’s real-life inspiration.
In a deliciously scandalous reveal, actor Andrew Rannells has pulled back the curtain on a little-known romance that has all the makings of a juicy Hollywood tale. Rannells, known for his role as Elijah Krantz on HBO’s Girls, recently spilled the beans about his brief fling with none other than CNN’s silver fox, Anderson Cooper. Yes, you heard that right—this isn’t just another celebrity gossip column; it’s the real deal.
During an episode of The Daily Beast’s Obsessed podcast, hosted by Kevin Fallon, Rannells, now 47, shared how his relationship with Cooper, which happened when he was just 25, inspired a storyline in Girls. “I told Lena and Jenni Konner a story about when I was 25 that I had dated Anderson Cooper,” he recounted, revealing that the showrunners were intrigued by the tale. “And I told them about the experience and what that was like.” Talk about a plot twist!
For those who might not be familiar, Rannells played Hannah’s ex-boyfriend Elijah on Girls from 2012 to 2019. His character was notable for coming out as gay in the show’s early episodes and later exploring bisexuality. But it was in the fifth season that things took a turn for the dramatic with the introduction of Dill Harcourt, played by Corey Stoll—a character that many fans speculated was inspired by Cooper himself.
Described as an “Anderson Cooper-esque character” by Out magazine back in 2017, Dill was the sophisticated, charming boyfriend who ultimately left poor Elijah heartbroken. The age difference and Dill’s reluctance to commit left Elijah reeling, mirroring the complexities of modern romance that Rannells himself experienced.
https://www.x.com/beastobsessed/status/2066521136167342412?s=46&t=88XUo1qATb9MezvRy8rrOw
Anderson Cooper, now a single dad of two, was no stranger to the buzz surrounding Dill’s character. In 2016, he expressed his admiration for Girls and even joked about whether Dill was based on him. “I just met Lena Dunham at Sundance, and she didn’t mention anything to me, but I’d be flattered,” Cooper remarked, adding, “I should ask him [Rannells].” Well, it seems Rannells has finally answered that question!
This revelation comes as a delightful surprise to fans who have long speculated about the real-life inspirations behind the show’s characters. With Rannells confirming the romance, the internet is buzzing with excitement. Will Cooper respond? Will there be a follow-up conversation? Only time will tell, but for now, this little nugget of gossip has given us all the feels.
As we dive deeper into the world of celebrity relationships, Rannells and Cooper’s brief romance serves as a reminder that even the most glamorous lives are filled with relatable heartbreaks and love stories. So, grab your popcorn and keep your eyes peeled for more juicy tidbits from the world of Girls and beyond!