Star Jones says Anderson Cooper came out to help his ratings

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Star Jones says Anderson Cooper came out to help his ratings just like Oprah Winfrey did when she said she smoked crack
By Christine Show
PUBLISHED:01:35 GMT, 4 July 2012 | UPDATED:09:30 GMT, 4 July 2012

Star Jones said on national television this morning that she believes Anderson Cooper announced he was gay to help improve ratings for his daytime talk show.

Jones made the remarks as part of a panel on the Today show after Cooper revealed his sexual orientation this week.

Jones said Cooper broke the news that he was gay in the same manner Oprah Winfrey did when she said she smoked crack because their shows need a bump in ratings.

'Lots of things': Star Jones said on the Today show that she thinks Anderson Cooper announced he was gay to help with a 'ratings slip' on his daytime television program

'Another reason?: Jones (center left) said Cooper was motivated to reveal his sexual preference to create attention to his talk show as she spoke with Natalie Morales (left), Donny Deutsch and Nancy Snyderman

On the show, Today's Natalie Morales asked Jones, along with Donny Deutsch and Nancy Snyderman, about the newsmaker as part of a regular segment called 'Today's Professionals.'

Morales asked the panel whether it was necessary for people in the spotlight to inform the public about their sexual preferences.

Jones spoke up first and said: 'I'm a little bit of a cynic.'

Morales questioned Jones about her thoughts behind Cooper's decision to reveal he is gay.

Morales said to Jones: 'Do you think he came out for another reason?'

Jones replied that she believes Cooper's daytime show called Anderson needed a boost in viewers.

'Generate information for ratings': Jones said Cooper was trying to boost ratings like Oprah Winfrey when she announced on her daytime show that she smoked crack, was pregnant at 14 and considered suicide

'He's a daytime talk show host and when the rating slip in daytime, the hosts tend to tell you lots of things about them.'

She went on to say that Oprah Winfrey had made announcements about her past in what Jones called a similar effort to attract viewers.

'I remember Oprah said she smoked crack, Oprah said she was pregnant at 14 and considered suicide,' Jones said. 'There [are] times when you generate information for ratings.'

In the 1990s, Oprah admitted on her hugely successful daytime show that she had smoked crack cocaine in her 20s while interviewing recovering addicts of the drug.

'Whoa': Jones (left) sarcastically gasped and said 'I'm sorry that I said that' after she compared Cooper to Winfrey, who Jones said made personal revelations to attract viewers

Jones then noted that her comments might be considered unsuitable.

She sarcastically gasped before saying, 'Whoa, I'm sorry that I said that.'

Jones, however, did compliment Cooper on his efforts if his motive was to drive ratings.
'I say, bravo, bravo,' she said.

Cooper came out by giving permission for friend Andrew Sullivan, who is openly gay, to print an email exchange between them on the Daily Beast.

In it he said: '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.

'Bravo, bravo': Although Jones was critical of Cooper's reasoning behind coming out, she did compliment him on his decision to make such a personal announcement

'I have always been very open and honest about this part of my life with my friends, my family, and my colleagues.

He said that he did not want people to think he is 'trying to hide something' and that he is 'proud' of who he is.

In candid comments he said that he was taking a stand because 'the tide of history only advances when people make themselves fully visible'.

The 45-year-old added he was moved by recent events such as Barack Obama's endorsement of gay marriage - and hopes his example will put an end to bullying.

Cooper's sexuality has long been an open secret in TV circles, but for him to state it publicly is a brave and bold move.

He is also one of the most high profile people to come out in recent years, given that he hosts CNN's 'Anderson Cooper 360' along with his talk show.

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