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Entertainment
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Entertainment
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Entertainment
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In August, Rachel Dratch gave birth to son Eli Benjamin, but didn't publicly disclose the identity of his father. Nine weeks later, the secret is out -- and surprise! It's her boyfriend!
In the new issue of People, the 44-year-old comedienne reveals that Eli's dad is John Wahl, a California businessmen whom Dratch started dating a year ago. (They met at a bar.) When the former SNL cast member became pregnant six months into their relationship, it was a shock to both of them!
"I had bought into all this stuff about, 'Once you're over 40...'," Dratch tells the magazine. "I'd gone through the whole process of letting go of [the idea of having kids]."
As for Wahl, he says he was "completely floored," but mainly felt "adrenaline and euphoria and excitement." He's since moved to New York City to be closer to his girlfriend and their baby (although there are no plans for marriage at the moment).
So why did Dratch keep his identity under wraps until now? She swears she was just trying to preserve her unfamous boyfriend's privacy -- although by saying only "it's a crazy story," Dratch accidentally invited all kinds of speculation about the identity of her baby daddy. Which begs the question: should single celebrity moms reveal the identities of their kids' fathers? Surely, it's nobody's business but their own -- but in this baby-bump-obsessed culture, keeping the dad secret means allowing for all kinds of crazy (and potentially hurtful) rumors. Plus there's always the possibility that the truth will be sold to the tabloids.
Still, a few brave celebrity moms have managed to keep mum about the fathers of their children. Padma Lakshmi, who gave birth in February, declined to name the father, but the papers claimed it was venture capitalist Adam Dell.
Minnie Driver is perhaps the most prominent single mom who's managed to actually keep the secret. Although gossip columns have speculated endlessly, Driver will only reveal that the father is "English," "busy," and "sort of in the same business." She has denied that it's musician Craig Zolezzi, who was named by several outlets as her boyfriend. Current speculation seems to favor Driver's The Riches co-star Eddie Izzard. For Driver's sake, we hope the truth comes out when she and little Henry decide they're ready -- and not a moment before.
Do you think single celebrity moms should reveal the names of their baby daddies? Chime in below!
