Bradley Cooper reacts to plastic surgery rumors

Bradley Cooper first addressed plastic surgery rumors during a podcast appearance, strongly denying having any work done.

His comments followed renewed speculation sparked by viral clips of press appearances for “Is This Thing On?”, where fans debated changes in his appearance.

Bradley Cooper previously defended the use of a prosthetic nose in “Maestro,” explaining that it was done for authenticity reasons and not for aesthetic enhancement.

During a recent appearance on the “Less intelligent” Podcast, hosted by Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes and Will Arnett, Bradley Cooper has finally addressed discussions surrounding his appearance, putting to rest long-standing rumors about cosmetic surgery.

During the conversation, Arnett, who is a longtime friend of Cooper’s, recalled that he was once asked to share something that people might not know about the actor.

He admitted he almost brought up the persistent chatter about plastic surgery, saying Cooper had gone under the knife.

“Everyone thinks Bradley had plastic surgery,” Arnett explained. “Everyone keeps saying that. I’m like, ‘What people don’t know is he didn’t do it.’ RIGHT?”

Bateman stepped in to clarify the point, repeating, “That’s not the case,” which Arnett emphatically confirmed.

The “Maestro” star, now 51, admitted that speculation has followed him closely, especially recently.

“No, I receive people [coming] to me these last few weeks. They say, “Oh, you look good!” Yeah. Yeah, but it’s crazy…” he shared.

Arnett admitted the rumors frustrated him. “It made me think…It made me crazy because people say that all the time, and it’s hilarious,” he said. “Everyone thinks they know. You know you’ve read this bullshit.”

The renewed attention around Cooper’s appearance began in October, when he was spotted making press appearances for his latest film, “Is This Thing On?”

A short video shared by AND! News quickly spread online, with viewers closely analyzing the actor’s visibly smooth skin and what appeared to be more defined facial features.

Social media users were quick to weigh in, pointing out his sharper cheekbones and wondering if he looked subtly altered.

Some even compared his appearance to Barry Manilow or Cillian Murphy, while others simply commented that something about his look seemed different.

According to Lambe, these changes could potentially be explained by refined cosmetic procedures.

He suggested Cooper could have opted for discreet enhancements such as a jawline tightening or lower lift, possibly involving advanced methods that reposition the SMAS layer under the skin to improve firmness and contour.

Lambe also noted that Cooper’s eyes appeared more open, speculating that a minor procedure in that area could be a factor.

While speculation about Cooper’s appearance has circulated for years, the “SmartLess” appearance marked the first time he directly addressed plastic surgery rumors.

However, this wasn’t the first time the actor spoke publicly about changes in his appearance. He previously responded to criticism over his use of a prosthetic nose while playing famed composer Leonard Bernstein in the 2023 film “Maestro.”

Speaking on “CBS Mornings” in November 2023, Cooper explained that the project was deeply personal.

“The truth is that I did this whole project out of love,” he said. “And I know very clearly where I come from: my nose looks a lot like Lenny’s, actually. The prosthetic is actually like a silk sheet.”

The actor, who also co-wrote and directed the Netflix biopic, went on to explain that the decision to use prosthetics was rooted in authenticity rather than exaggeration.