Bradley Cooper's Relationships Just Keep Getting Weirder And Weirder
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Bradley Cooper is a chameleon on and off screen. Up until the 2018 pandemonium that was A Star Is Born — which he famously produced, directed, co-wrote, and acted in — the Philly native was most known for starring in the bro-comedy trilogy, The Hangover. For a while, he got pigeonholed as being that guy from the franchise ... an idea GQ touched on in 2014. Noting that the movie star has "never played a guy as smart as he is in real life," the mag went on to explain that Cooper graduated from the Georgetown English program with honors, "wrote his thesis on Nabokov's Lolita," and adores John Milton's epic poem, Paradise Lost. Meanwhile, The New York Times once compared him to his hyper-genius character in Limitless. It makes us wonder what the rest of us have to do to get to his level of success.
As time went on and as his own star was born, the world got to see just how diverse this A-lister really is ... all while maintaining his approachable, guy-next-door air. However, like all creative geniuses, Coop's got some bizarre tendencies that may have even affected those around him. Let's take a peek at why Bradley Cooper's relationships just keep getting weirder and weirder.
Bradley Cooper's mom is a 'cool chick'
It's no secret that Bradley Cooper loves his mother, Gloria Campano. Anybody who watches award shows has probably seen her familiar face peering up at her son while he towers over her on the red carpet. According to the Daily Mail, she's become such a regular that fans have commented on her "bada** outfit and star presence."
However, the close bond Coop has shared with his glam mom goes even further: In a 2013 interview with Details, he revealed that the duo had lived together well into the actor's adult life. "My family is very close, and my dad dying was brutal for all of us. It was a schism, and its aftershock has not stopped. And we need each other," the Guardians of the Galaxy star explained (via the Los Angeles Times). "So here we are ... it's not like I live in a compound and she's in the guesthouse. No, she's in the next room. But here's the thing: she's a cool chick. We can hang, and she can roll with the punches."
We assume Cooper really liked hanging out with his mother, considering he later reportedly hoped to share a living space with both her and his girlfriend at the time, Irina Shayk.
Cooper brought makeup wipes to Lady Gaga's screen test
Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga's relationship has been a hot topic ever since the duo starred together in A Star Is Born. Their sightings off-screen have been filled with discrete PDA, complete with hand-holding on the red carpet and this intimate performance of their hit song, "Shallow," at the 2019 Oscars. Perhaps their intense connection got to be too much for the actor's actual girlfriend at the time, Irina Shayk, considering the duo split a mere four months later.
Shayk certainly lasted through the rumors for an incredible amount of time, as her beau got very close with the "Applause" singer almost immediately. Don't believe us? Try this one on for size: The Daily Beast reports that Gaga recounted the story of how she landed the role of Ally during a press conference at the 75th Venice Film Festival. "I walked down the stairs of my house before we filmed the screen test for A Star Is Born, and [Cooper] had a makeup wipe in his hand," she said. "He put his hand on my face, and he went like this... and he said, 'I want no makeup on your face.' This vulnerability was something he brought out in me." The internet, of course, went into an uproar over the weirdness of the entire sitch, but hey, when you have a connection, nothing seems over the top.
Bradley Cooper's private relationship with Irina Shayk
The notoriously private relationship between Bradley Cooper and ex-girlfriend Irina Shayk seemed a bit off when they were together. The model even commented on their unconventional romance in February 2019, telling Glamour UK, "I have a lot of friends who share a lot of their personal life on Instagram or social media, very publicly ... I think it's all about personal choice." She added, "That's why it's called personal, because it's something for you and your family, and I feel happy with it."
It's interesting that they elected to keep things so under wraps, considering the amount of PDA Cooper packed on with his A Star Is Born co-star, Lady Gaga, during the festival circuit. As the actor's "friendship" with the singer kept sizzling, his personal relationship with Shayk reportedly grew further apart. "Bradley was emotionally absent during the long time filming A Star Is Born," a source told People, while another insider dished to the mag, "The romance changed to more of a partnership."
Looking at your relationship solely as a partnership is weird enough, but can it even qualify as that if you're allegedly not spending any time together? "If he was in L.A., she's out of town," another source cited by People revealed. "And if she was in town, he was out of town."
Cooper's ex-wife had the last laugh
It's easy to forget that Bradley Cooper was married once upon a time — considering his time as a hunky husband to Jennifer Esposito lasted just months. After marrying in late December 2006, the NCIS actress filed for divorce the following May.
Although Coop has remained remarkably tight-lipped about all of his previous relationships, Esposito was less than kind, seemingly revealing some personal details about the couple's romance in her 2015 book, Jennifer's Way. According to Us Weekly, she dished about an unnamed ex, "He was funny, smart, cocky, arrogant, and a master manipulator." Yikes! Cooper, on the other hand, used his magical ability to get personal without sharing too much on Howard Stern's radio show in 2011. "It was just something that happened," the Avengers: Endgame star said of their decision to call it quits (via CBS News). "The good thing is, we both realized it."
Perhaps all we're left with is Esposito's weirdly cryptic post after her ex-husband's performance of "Shallow" during the 2019 Academy Awards. The entire internet was abuzz after the romantic duet. David Spade even captioned a photo of Cooper and Lady Gaga with, "Is there any chance these 2 aren't f**king?" Esposito's headline-making retort? According to People, she threw some perfect shade and simply responded to the comedian's snap with, "Ha."
The time Bradley Cooper said he was old enough to be JLaw's dad
Lady Gaga wasn't the only starlet to have a rumored romance with on-screen flame Bradley Cooper — it was one Jennifer Lawrence who first raised eyebrows. It's only natural that the duo developed such a strong connection, considering they've starred in numerous flicks together, such as American Hustle. In 2015, Cooper told Deadline that the chemistry he shared with the blonde starlet actually began while learning a dance routine together for Silver Linings Playbook: "I wonder if these guys who do Dancing With The Stars like have a connection forever." He then, oddly enough, went on to claim that they don't talk often, yet when they got back together on the set of Joy, it was like no time passed by. "We just started where we left off ... It's just easy to look at her and feel like I'm telling the truth."
With statements like that, it's hard to believe there was nothing romantic going on between Cooper and Lawrence. Of course, when the public caught on to their undeniable chemistry, both A-listers immediately shot down the rumors. "No, no, no, no, no. Not even close," Cooper once told Entertainment Tonight when asked about their alleged romance. "First of all, I could be her father."
Imitation is Cooper's sincerest form of flattery
Sam Elliott has got a pretty iconic voice. With its deep, husky quality, the actor has become a staple in Western cinema. Hanging up his cowboy hat, the celeb took on the role of Bobby in A Star Is Born, which earned him an Oscar nod for best supporting actor. Considering he played Bradley Cooper's brother in the flick, the duo obviously wanted to appear related on camera. Cooper, of course, ensured this in the weirdest way possible.
Speaking to Entertainment Weekly, Elliott revealed that his first meeting with Coop was, well, a bit odd. "I'd never met him before," the cowboy-playing legend began. "I went to his home, and had a meal with him, and we talked for a couple of hours ... and talked about his vision for the film." However, what happened next was truly bizarre: "[Cooper] played [me] the tape of him working with a voice coach, when he's trying to get my voice down. I remember him saying, 'This is going to sound a little weird,' and it fu**ing did sound weird. Because it sounded like me!"
Nonetheless, Elliott left Cooper's house feeling more excited than ever: "It was just evident that Bradley was, number one, so f**king smart ... And as it turned out, he's a brilliant filmmaker."
Bradley Cooper and the case of the platonic face-stroking
Bradley Cooper started dating Suki Waterhouse in 2013 — not long after the actor publicly commented on Jennifer Lawrence being "too young" for him. Well, as it turns out, JLaw is actually two years older than the model. You thought that was weird? The story got even juicier as time went on, turning into a bizarre love-rectangle after their split two years later.
Immediately following the couple's breakup, paps caught a glimpse of Lawrence appearing to console Cooper at an after party for his movie, Serena. According to Metro, the adorable face-stroking that went on at the event was totally platonic. Hmm, okay. Now, keep up with us. Just a few years after this "friends-only" display of affection, Waterhouse was spotted getting cozy with a new man: Lawrence's own ex, Darren Aronofsky. According to Us Weekly, the Black Swan director met up with the English beauty in a strange twist of fate at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival. Sources cited by the magazine claimed, "Darren is very into her and was telling friends how sweet and hot she was on his plane ride back."
Does Cooper's mother know best when it comes to his relationships?
At the beginning of Zoe Saldana's relationship with Bradley Cooper, she seemed to get along with the most important woman in his life: his mother. So, what went wrong? Perhaps it was the duo's on-again, off-again behavior, or maybe it was the case of a meddling roommate. According to Radar Online, Cooper's ma, Gloria Campano, lived with him around the time he ran into trouble with his other main missus, and reportedly told him to stop dating the starlet. "Gloria tried to get to know Zoe when they rekindled their romance, but she still didn't think she was a good fit for him," a source told the gossip rag, adding, "Like all moms, Gloria is very protective of her son, and gets to know his girlfriends well."
Months after their official split in 2013, Saldana married Marco Perego. By July 2014, the actress became the cover girl for Marie Claire and had some dirty laundry to air regarding her exes. "I have been in relationships where a man has disrespected me, and I don't need to be friends with that man anymore," she told the magazine. Saldana continued, "There's a reason why you're called an ex. I crossed you off my list. Moving on." Perhaps she didn't take too lightly to playing second fiddle?
Did Bradley Cooper prioritize climbing the A-list ladder?
Before Zoe Saldana, Bradley Cooper's leading lady was Renée Zellweger. After meeting on the set of Case 39 and getting together in 2009, the happy couple were already fending off engagement rumors by the following year. They also couldn't stop gushing about one another to the press. "I can't say enough about her," Cooper swooned to Entertainment Tonight at the time (via People). "I just love her. I [loved] coming to work. I love acting with her. I can learn so much from her."
Aww-worthy quotes aside, it looks like the Marvel star unfortunately did, in fact, get enough of his flame, since they called things off just five months later. According to Pop Eater, the split may have had something to do with Coop enjoying his newfound celeb status (via Glamour). As a source revealed to the goss site, Zellweger was "starting to think about children and settling down while Bradley loves his life exactly as it is. It's taken him a long time to be an A-list actor, and he's enjoying all the perks, fame and opportunities that have come his way."
A teenage Cooper may have foreshadowed some budding relationships
It looks like Bradley Cooper may have always been a ladies man — even at the tender age of 18. According to ET Canada, the Philadelphia Inquirer once dug up an old article written by a teenage Coop when he interned at the Philadelphia Daily News. The headline? "When best friends cross the line."
Now that we've got your attention, let's proceed. After posing the question of whether you can successfully be "friends with benefits" without "destroying" a friendship, the sprightly soon-to-be actor penned: "There has always been an underlying attraction between the two of us; however, it was never confronted until this year. Before, we could never fathom the idea of being more than just friends, especially because she was involved in a relationship with a friend of mine. After they broke up, things began to change."
Hmm, we don't know about you, but this totally sounds like some eerie foreshadowing to the 2019 sitch with Cooper's A Star Is Born co-star, Lady Gaga. While sources close to the songstress revealed to Us Weekly that she "felt bad" over Cooper's breakup with Irina Shayk and claimed that she "isn't going to get together" with him, we have a feeling some die-hard fans are keeping a vigil of hope that the actor takes some tips from his teen self.
Cooper's giggly history with Jimmy Fallon
Bradley Cooper is known to be calm and collected during interviews. Who can forget this awkward Oscars red carpet interview with Giuliana Rancic, where the less-than-animated star watches his interviewer flounder under pressure. That being said, all of this seems to go out the window when The Hangover alum appears on Jimmy Fallon's The Tonight Show.
The history of the duo's bizarre rapport began in 2014, when the actor promoted his Broadway production of The Elephant Man on the late-night show. Donning wigs and visors for a bit, Coop and Fallon memorably break into a total fit of laughter that lasts about five minutes, with Fallon finally asking his crew, "Is anything usable at all?" By 2018, it looked as though Cooper had free range to do whatever he wanted when he rejoined his pal on The Tonight Show. While promoting A Star Is Born, the pair start giggling somewhere around the three-minute mark, causing Fallon to exclaim, "There's no rules here." After echoing the host's sentiment of the show-inducing anarchy, the two actually get up mid-interview to check whether Cooper wore the same suit twice to Fallon's studio. Clearly, these buds don't care who's watching.
No relationship questions for Bradley Cooper, please
It seems that as Bradley Cooper has continued to climb the A-list ladder, he's tended to pick and choose what he wishes to share with the press. Amid the height of his Hangover fame, it appeared the star was less inclined to give away any personal details about his own life off camera, according to the Daily Mail. However, he certainly hasn't opened up more throughout the years. By 2018, Cooper would flat-out admit that there are certain things he just doesn't want to talk about.
Around that time, The New York Times ran a profile about the celeb, with author Taffy Brodesser-Akner writing, "He is willing to tell me a lot about his movie ... but he is not willing to go much further. He doesn't like my questions about the particular inspiration for certain details in the movie. He doesn't like questions about his personal life." But what's the real reason behind Cooper's distance from the public eye? As he told Brodesser-Akner, he avoids personal questions because he doesn't have a chance to edit anything afterward.
This is, of course, totally fair enough. But as Bradley Cooper's star keeps on rising, we have a feeling this blue-eyed powerhouse may have some difficulty flying under the radar — especially when it comes to his relationships.