Gabourey Sidibe is a mom!
The actress and her husband, Brandon Frankel, who got married in 2021 after meeting on a dating app, welcomed twins in April 2024.
“Brandon always wanted to name a son Cooper, so we call him ‘Coop,’ and Maya was named shortly before our babymoon to the Mayan Riviera in Mexico,” Sidibe told Shutterstock.
Frankel is absolutely smitten with his little family. In November 2024, he penned a sweet post on Instagram about Cooper, Maya and Sidibe, calling them the “loves of my life.”
“No matter how tough things get, or how crazy the world becomes, the way you all light up when you see me just warms my heart. I love you all the most,” he added.
Here is everything you need to know about Gabourey Sidibe’s husband, Brandon Frankel.
He works in the entertainment industry
Frankel has worked in the entertainment industry for over a decade, with roles in branding, marketing and consulting under his belt. He’s worked at some of the top entertainment companies and agencies, including Cameo, Paradigm Talent Agency, CAA Music and Atlantic Records.
Frankel currently serves as the marketing and branding lead for booking agency 33 & West, according to Billboard.
He met Sidibe on the dating app Raya
After his previous marriage ended, Frankel wasn’t sure how to approach dating in the digital age. He decided to take a chance on the member’s only dating app Raya and swiped right on Sidibe. Frankel later told Brides that their first date lasted “more than seven hours.”
He proposed to Sidibe in November 2020
In November 2020, Sidibe announced that she and Frankel had gotten engaged on Instagram. Frankel revealed how he popped the question in his own Instagram post, which featured a photo of a lavish proposal setup complete with rose petals and a “Will you marry me?” balloon sign.
“I asked my best friend to marry me, and she said ‘YES’! So excited to spend the rest of my life with the most amazing, hilarious, beautiful, and inspiring woman I’ve ever known,” Frankel wrote in his caption. “I couldn’t imagine a life without you. We make the best team, and we make everything fun and memorable. I liked it, so I put a 💍 on it.”
He and Sidibe got married in 2021
A year and a half after their engagement, Sidibe shared details of her and Frankel’s wedding plans with Brides. The actress revealed that they were planning a spring 2023 nuptials, but noted that they don’t have all the details figured out yet.
However, during a Dec. 5, 2022, appearance on Live with Kelly and Ryan, Sidibe revealed that she and Frankel were already married.
Sidibe explained, “The thing about weddings is I don’t like them. I don’t like them. Here’s an example of how much I don’t like them: I’m actually married. We got married over a year ago.”
The actress went on to say that she and Frankel tied the knot “at the kitchen table” about four months after their engagement, adding that they still plan to have a ceremony at a later date.
On Feb. 1, 2023, Frankel posted a throwback video from his and Sidibe’s first wedding anniversary celebration. The clip showed the two at a picnic on the beach, complete with a decorated table and a “Happy First Anniversary” sign written in chalk.
“This is from March of 2022 on our first wedding anniversary! Now that the world knows, figured I’d share,” Frankel wrote in the caption. “I surprised @gabby3shabby with a picnic on the beach…and I’m usually horrible with surprises and I totally got her!
He and Sidibe are cat parents
Sidibe and Frankel are proud parents of two cats, Aaron and Derrell Jermaine Dupree. The felines make frequent appearances on the couples’ Instagram accounts and Derrell Jermaine Dupree even has his own separate account.
The cats are such an important aspect of the couple’s life together that Frankel also involved one of them in his proposal to Sidibe. As seen in Frankel’s Instagram post, Derrell Jermaine Dupree wore a collar that read “Will you marry my daddy?”
He is Sidibe’s biggest supporter
It’s no secret that Sidibe and Frankel are very supportive of each other. Frankel is constantly praising Sidibe’s career on Instagram and expressing how proud he is of her. Sidibe does the same in her own humorous way.
They are also always there for each other emotionally. “The second I look a bit stressed and overwhelmed, he jumps into action to take over what he can for me. Every moment with him is a joy. He is the partner I thought I was too independent to need. I’ve learned so much about myself through him and I feel grateful and excited to learn more about the entire world with him by my side,” Sidibe wrote in her Instagram engagement announcement.
He has a tattoo of Sidibe’s first name
In March 2023, Frankel got “Gabourey” tattooed on his thigh.
“I love my wife so much I wanted to ink her name on me forever. That’s how much I love her,” he wrote on Instagram. “And she was very worried once I showed her what I did that y’all would think she made me do it. I assure you, I’m just crazy in love.”
Sidibe’s initial response to the ink, which was recorded on video by Frankel, was less than enthusiastic.
“Oh, what did you do? Why did you do this?” she said with a laugh. “Okay. Spelled correctly, good job.”
He and Sidibe welcomed twins in April 2024
Sidibe gave birth to twins — a son named Cooper and a daughter named Maya — in early April 2024.
“Both twins have traditional West African middle names after members of my family,” the actress told Shutterstock, adding, “Maya loves her name being sung to her and is the queen of comedic timing, and Cooper loves his sleep and has the funniest facial expressions. They both love cuddling with mom and dad.”
Source: People
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