Hilaria Baldwin Urges Andy Cohen to Give Babysitters a Raise

Hilaria Baldwin has weighed in on the childcare wage debate by publicly urging Andy Cohen to give his babysitters a raise. The mother of seven shared her thoughts during an exclusive conversation at the Virtual Reali-Tea Awards in New York City, addressing the Bravo executive's widely discussed hourly rate for his domestic help.

The discussion around childcare compensation began when Andy Cohen revealed during a taping of his SiriusXM show, "Andy Cohen Live," that he pays his babysitters $30 an hour. The admission prompted fellow radio personality Jeff Lewis to call him cheap during the broadcast. Lewis argued that someone with Cohen's financial standing should be paying a higher wage, noting that he pays his own babysitter $37 an hour to watch his daughter, Monroe.

While speaking with reporters at the red carpet event, Hilaria Baldwin initially suggested that the $30 hourly rate is likely standard for the industry. However, she quickly contrasted Cohen's rate with her own household, noting that her husband, actor Alec Baldwin, offers a more generous salary for their domestic help. Addressing Cohen directly in a lighthearted manner, she joked that his babysitters should consider switching employers. Baldwin playfully remarked that she did not want to cause problems, but welcomed Cohen's childcare workers to come work for her family instead.

The two households manage significantly different childcare needs. Andy Cohen employs help to watch his two young children, Ben and Lucy. Meanwhile, Hilaria and Alec Baldwin, who married in 2012, share a much larger family consisting of seven children ranging in age from toddlers to teenagers. Hilaria noted that her family is currently in an interesting transition phase as the children grow older and require less intensive daily assistance, though the household has historically maintained a busy environment.

Despite criticism from peers like Jeff Lewis and the playful nudge from Hilaria Baldwin, Andy Cohen has defended his compensation structure. Following the initial on-air remarks, Cohen doubled down on his position during an appearance at the Broadcasting & Cable Hall of Fame red carpet. He maintained that he consulted with friends about current market rates and determined that his offered salary was comparable to what others in his social circle pay for similar childcare services.

The ongoing conversation highlights differing perspectives among public figures regarding fair compensation for domestic workers. While Andy Cohen stands by his market research and established hourly rate, Hilaria Baldwin continues to advocate for higher pay, drawing a contrast with the more generous compensation provided by Alec Baldwin in their own bustling household.