Hollywood heartthrob Bradley Cooper is currently dating Gigi Hadid. Despite being linked to many women, 2011’s PEOPLE magazine‘s Sexiest Man Alive insists he’s far from being a ladies’ man. The actor first got married to actress Jennifer Esposito in 2006. But their romance didn’t last long and they divorced four months later.
Cooper then went on to date Renée Zellweger, his co-star Zoe Saldaña, model-actress Suki Waterhouse, and Russian supermodel Irina Shayk, with whom he has a daughter named Lea de Seine.
Since parting ways with Shayk in 2019, the Maestro star has reportedly been seeing Huma Abedin. While Cooper has been often linked to high-profile celebrities, he’s especially grateful for the daughter he shares with one of his previous partners.
Recently, he opened up about fatherhood in a very honest way. Cooper shared how becoming a dad to little Lea De Seine changed his life. However, he also made one confession related to his daughter that might be heartbreaking to hear.
Bradley Cooper Admitted to Feeling No Connection to His Daughter When She was Born
In an episode of Dax Shepard’s Armchair Expert podcast on February 26, Bradley Cooper shared that he struggled to feel that instant daddy-daughter connection to his and Irina Shayk’s daughter, Lea, when she was born.
The 49-year-old explained that during the first few months of Lea’s life, he couldn’t relate when other parents would say, “I would die in a second for my kid.” He continued:
“The first eight months — I don’t even know if I really love the kid. It’s dope. It’s cool. I’m watching this thing morph. That’s my experience. Fascinated by it. Loved taking care of it. But would I die if someone came in with a gun?”
Fans have contrasting views regarding his admission. Some believe he shouldn’t have said it in front of the media. Check out their reactions:
i feel like he didn’t HAVE to tell the world this lmfao
— francesca (@moneemorgan) February 29, 2024
These are the thoughts that stay with the therapist
— Hobie Brown (@HumansPersonOh) February 29, 2024
Weirdly enough I get it, but this is usually one of these things you tell friends.
Not media. Lmao.
— ArtofZeitgeist (@ArtofZeitgeist) February 29, 2024
Why would you say that first line 💀💀
— MovieGainz (@MovieGainz) February 29, 2024
Not inditing him as a person, but I feel like he could have conveyed this point while not dehumanizing her with his language.
Even if he no longer feels that way, you can say, "I couldn't connect with my daughter at first" without calling her "it" or a "thing."
— Brooksie C. Fontaine (@BrooksieCFonta1) February 29, 2024
I mean why even say that though to the world… I mean “first 8 months”? 8 months is a long time. Probs should just keep certain things private….
— Chris Cutaneo (@chriscutaneo1) February 29, 2024
However, the Licorice Pizza star admitted that soon he realized he wanted to be a better person to minimize any harm to his daughter. The Pennsylvania native added:
“I’m not sure I’d be alive if I wasn’t a dad. I just needed someone to say, like, ‘We’re gonna drop this massive anchor. I’m like, ‘Why? We’re speeding! I just got an upgrade on the boat, and I know where the wind’s coming in.’ They’re like, ‘No, no, no, there’s a tsunami coming in, and you need an anchor and we’re gonna drop it.’ Because this is gonna dictate everything you do from now on. Your DNA is going to tell you that there’s something more important than you.”
Cooper and Shayk called it quits in June 2019 after being together for four years. Despite the split, they agreed to stay friendly for the sake of their daughter.
Bradley Cooper and Irina Shayk are a Committed Co-Parenting Duo Despite Not Being Together
Exes Bradley Cooper and Irina Shayk are committed parents. Cooper and Shayk became parents to their daughter Lea De Seine in April 2017. A source told People, “For Lea’s sake, they keep spending time together as a family.”
In recent years, after their separation, the two have been seen together multiple times. In November 2021, they were spotted walking together in New York City, arm-in-arm. The next month, the Sports Illustrated covergirl went with Cooper to the premiere of Nightmare Alley, where he said it meant a lot to have her support.
In August 2022, Shayk posted pictures on Instagram of her and Cooper on a tropical vacation, grabbing attention. People started guessing if they had gotten back together. One photo showed her leaning on his shoulder, and another showed her sitting in the sand with a heart drawn around her.
Later in 2022, they were spotted at a fashion industry party and walking their dogs together. At the 2023 Met Gala, the Oscar winner and the 38-year-old model were seen talking inside, but they arrived separately on the red carpet (via another article by People).
Now, the A Star is Born actor has since moved on with Gigi Hadid. The pair started dating in October 2023 and are still together. However, Shayk isn’t pleased about their relationship, even though she’s dating retired NFL star Tom Brady.
According to an insider who spoke to Page Six, Russia’s Next Top Model judge wants to settle down with Cooper eventually, considering the time they’ve invested in their relationship.
