Cooper Koch, the 28-year-old actor who just broke out playing Erik Menendez in Netflix’s Monsters, recently had some explaining to do. Why, you ask? Oh, just because he’s been running around wearing what looks like a wedding ring, even though – plot twist – he’s not married! Scandal? Mystery? Nope, just Cooper living his best accessorized life.
Cooper popped by SiriusXM’s Andy Cohen Live on Wednesday (October 16) to spill the tea. Just days earlier, he made an appearance on Watch What Happens Live where he confirmed that yes, ladies and gents, he has a boyfriend. And now, cue Andy Cohen noticing the gleaming little circle of commitment bling on Cooper’s finger, because of course Andy was going to ask.
“Is that… a wedding ring?” Andy probed. Without missing a beat, Cooper casually shot back, “I am,” as if answering the question with the energy of Beyoncé’s ‘Single Ladies’ choreography. Then, he gave the whole backstory, which, fair warning, sounds like something out of a rom-com that hasn’t been written yet.
“So, my twin brother Payton was nominated for an Emmy—casual flex, by the way—for editing Only Murders in the Building,” Cooper began, in a tone that suggests that attending the Emmys is just, like, a Tuesday night activity. “We’re getting ready, right? I’ve got no jewelry on—because I’m apparently allergic to sparkle that night—and I’m with my boyfriend. We’re rooting through my stuff, and there’s this ring that used to be my grandfather’s.”
Naturally, this is where things take a turn for the wholesome-weird. “I was like, ‘Oh, I should just wear this ring.’ And somehow, for reasons, it lands on my ring finger,” Cooper said. “It’s not an engagement or marriage thing. It’s more like… a little romantic, protective mechanism. Like a ‘let’s confuse some strangers tonight’ kind of vibe. Why not mess with people, you know?”
If you’re thinking, Okay, cute, but what about the boyfriend?—Andy thought that too. So, he asked if Cooper’s boyfriend is also sporting a matching mystery ring. Spoiler: He’s not.
“Nope,” Cooper admitted, “but trust me, he’s just as committed as I am. We’ve talked about getting him one, but for now, it’s more like a ‘nice little totem’ for me. You know, something that says, ‘Back off, he’s mine,’ without actually having to say it.”
A ring that’s equal parts jewelry, romantic signal, and social experiment. Forget traditional wedding bands—Cooper’s all about chaos couture.
