Anderson Cooper Dated Girls, Hoping to Meet Their Brothers

(Image Credit: Taylor Hill/WireImage/Getty Images)

Journalist Anderson Cooper isn't afraid to joke about his past experiences with women.

During Cooper's daytime talk show, "Anderson Live," executive producer Terence Noonan asked him how he knows anything about women. Cooper came out publicly as gay in July.

"Well, let me tell you," Cooper responded. "Because unlike you, sweetie, I have had a little bit more experience in other areas other than with guys."

The talk-show host then joked that he dated a few girls when he was 12.

"Most of my best friends right now are girls who allegedly dated me when we were 13 and 14 who I didn't really know we were dating but they thought we were dating and I was sort of, you know, hoping to meet their brothers," he said.

Cooper, 45, came out in an email to the Daily Beast's Andrew Sullivan that was published on Sullivan's blog.