Andy Cohen's Babysitter Pay Sparks Debate

Andy Cohen recently contacted his friend Kelly Ripa to discuss babysitter compensation rates. This outreach followed criticism from Jeff Lewis, who labeled Cohen as "cheap" for paying his babysitter approximately $30 per hour. Lewis publicly stated that this rate was low, especially for someone with Cohen's financial means and for caring for two children.

Cohen reportedly became defensive and texted several famous friends, including Ripa, to ask about their own babysitter pay. Lewis shared on a podcast that Cohen was actively seeking this information live on the radio. Cohen, a father of two, has previously spoken about how his priorities have shifted since becoming a parent, finding new accomplishment in daily parenting tasks.

Kelly Ripa, who has been married to Mark Consuelos since 1996 and shares three children, has also discussed childcare. In a past anecdote, she mentioned hiring babysitters in eight-hour shifts, akin to nurses, while she was away filming. This highlights a different approach to childcare staffing compared to Cohen's situation.