Fact Check: Did Anderson Cooper build a free hospital for homeless people?

WASHINGTON, DC: A rumor has been circulating on social media platforms claiming that former CNN journalist Anderson Cooper has built a free hospital for homeless people. The claim sparked conflicting reactions, with many believing it is true while others expressed skepticism and called for a fact-check.

Claim: Anderson Cooper built a free hospital for the homeless

According to the social media rumor that began circulating in late September, the journalist opened the Anderson Cooper Homestead Medical Center in New York, complete with 250 beds, 120 apartments, and a range of additional services, all at zero cost to patients. 

The claim has been shared on multiple platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, X, and Threads, accompanied by an image featuring Cooper cutting a ribbon in front of a building with a sign reading, "Anderson Cooper Medical Center." 

"This is the legacy I want to leave behind," Cooper said about the hospital, according to the posts.

According to the posts, the facility cost $142 million, and the foundation raised all funds from anonymous donors over 18 months, with no public fanfare or announcements until it opened.

Fact Check: No credible evidence to support the claim

The claim, however, is false, as there is no evidence that Cooper has opened a free hospital for the homeless.

Cooper has made no official announcements, statements, or social media posts about opening a hospital.

If the claim were true, prominent news outlets would report it, but a Google search for the claim yielded no credible media reports, only social media posts amplifying it.

Moreover, the claim is AI slop, a spam-type content generated using AI tools. CNN spokesperson Shimrit Sheetrit told Snopes via email that the rumor is false.

Anderson Cooper stepped away from '60 Minutes'

Cooper stepped away from 'CBS’s 60 Minutes' earlier this year after nearly two decades to focus on his family. 

Since 2007, he has balanced his '60 Minutes' reporting with anchoring 'CNN’s Anderson Cooper 360°', a rare thing for a journalist to hold top roles on both network and cable television. 

The most striking moment came when Cooper directly addressed the program's future after CBS News chief Bari Weiss reportedly overhauled “60 Minutes” at the end of the current season. 

“I hope ‘60 Minutes’ remains ‘60 Minutes,’” Cooper said. “There are very few things that have been around for as long as ‘60 Minutes’ has and maintained the quality that it has.”