The former 'Empire' actress has officially become a first-time mother after she welcomed twin babies, a son and daughter, with her husband, Brandon Frankel.
- June 7, 2024
AceShowbiz - Gabourey Sidibe, known for her iconic roles in "Empire" and "Precious", has taken on her most joyous role yet: motherhood. On Thursday, June 6, the actress shared via Instagram that she and her husband, Brandon Frankel, have become proud parents to twin babies.
The couple welcomed a baby boy named Cooper and a baby girl named Maya in early April, and the news has left fans and followers ecstatic.
In an exclusive statement to The Shade Room, Sidibe detailed the significance behind her children's names. "Brandon always wanted to name a son Cooper, so we can call him 'Coop,' and Maya was named shortly before our baby moon to the Mayan Riviera in Mexico," she revealed. "Both twins have traditional West African middle names after members of my family."
Sidibe originally announced her pregnancy in February with a humorous Instagram post featuring her baby bump. Captioning the photo carousel, she wrote, "We thought it was time to give our cats some responsibility so we're giving them each a baby to take care of! Double the babies, double the cats, double the fun!! Twin Delivery coming soon! Twinty Twinty Four!!"
Sneakily, the couple had also kept their marriage a secret for some time. Sidibe and Frankel secretly tied the knot in 2021 in what the actress described as a "kitchen counter" wedding during the thick of the pandemic.
She revealed the intimate details during an appearance on "Live With Kelly and Ryan" in December 2022, later posting official wedding photos to Instagram. "We really do want to have a wedding someday, but I just couldn't wait to marry this amazing man," she shared.
The new parents are beyond thrilled and shared more about their experience with their twins. "Cooper will sometimes speak for Maya and alert us that she's about to spit up. 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," Sidibe said.
Despite the challenges of parenting twins, Sidibe and Frankel are excited for the adventures that lie ahead. "We're excited for outfits and getting them dressed up, for sing-alongs, trips and to explore, and raising them to be good people," Sidibe said.
Hearty congratulations are in order for this beautiful family of four. Gabourey Sidibe and Brandon Frankel's journey from a secretive marriage to a joyous double birth has warmed many hearts and continues to capture the essence of happiness and love.
