Andy Cohen Defends Babysitter Pay After Jeff Lewis Calls Him 'Cheap'

Andy Cohen is defending his hourly rate for babysitters, a figure that drew criticism from his friend and fellow television personality Jeff Lewis.

Cohen, 58, revealed on his SiriusXM show that he pays his babysitter $30 per hour to care for his two children. Lewis, a guest on the program, called the rate "cheap," particularly given Cohen's financial standing.

When approached by Page Six at the Broadcasting + Cable Hall of Fame Awards on Tuesday, Cohen addressed the criticism. "I checked with my friends" to gauge the going rate for babysitters, he stated, implying that his $30-per-hour payment was in line with what others were paying.

Cohen, who seemed taken aback by the suggestion he might be underpaying, remarked, "I wasn't [a cheapskate] till we started talking about it on the radio. You're making me feel like one." He added that he plans to discuss the matter further with other people to understand prevailing rates.

Lewis had previously stated on "Andy Cohen Live" that he considered Cohen's rate to be low, asserting, "It's cheap to me, especially from someone with your money." Lewis disclosed that his own babysitter earns $37 per hour for watching his daughter, Monroe.

Cohen welcomed his son, Ben, via surrogate in 2019, and his daughter, Lucy Eve, in 2022. He was honored at the Broadcasting + Cable Hall of Fame Awards alongside Wolf Blitzer, Val Boreland, and Joseph M. Cohen. Cohen also attended the event with his boyfriend, finance executive Kevin Sobieski, whom he began dating in 2025.

In other news, Cohen is preparing for the release of his book, "Andy's Bravo Scrapbook," on October 20. The book will feature personal photographs from the past two decades.