'The GOAT' Contestant CJ Franco Says Separation Didn't Break Her Parents' Bond
Reality TV personality CJ Franco shared that even though her parents separated when she was young, they have remained best friends ever since.
Published May 8 2024, 3:19 p.m. ET
For those unaware, Celisa "CJ" Franco is a multi-talented rising star in the entertainment industry, boasting experience as a model, actress, comedian, and unapologetic reality TV personality.
She rose to fame as the winner of Season 1 of FBoy Island, and now, she's more than ready to captivate audiences as part of the star-studded cast of Prime Video's reality competition series The GOAT.
As her portfolio expands with new projects, reality TV buffs are growing curious to learn more about CJ's life beyond the lens. To kick things off, who are her parents? Read on for all the known details!
Who are 'The GOAT' star CJ Franco's parents?
On Feb. 8, 1991, CJ Franco was born in Northern California to parents Anthony Franco and Autumn Lewis. Her parents were high school sweethearts, but Anthony came out as a gay man when CJ was one year old.
Despite this revelation, Anthony and Autumn have remained best friends to this very day! CJ also shares a particularly close relationship with both her parents, especially her father.
In July 2021, CJ spoke with The Sun and revealed that she gets her best dating tips from her dad!
"I've dated some Fboys for sure. I get a lot of my training and detective work from my dad. He's gay, he's been gay my whole life," she explained to the outlet. "And so our dynamic is a little unusual where we really talk about everything."
CJ added, "We are very open with each other, and my dad has really trained me on what to look for in boys. His advice is so on point, I really suspect that he too, you know, was once a Fboy."
At the time of writing, details about CJ Franco's parents are limited. However, based on information from her mother Autumn's Facebook profile, she earned a bachelor's degree in biology from the University of California, Santa Cruz, in 1997.
As for her dad, Anthony, his Instagram account is private — but CJ frequently shares posts about him! On June 19, 2023, she celebrated Father's Day by sharing a carousel of photos featuring her and her "two gay dads." The photos capture moments of joy and laughter as CJ, her father, and his longtime partner, Dennis Marshall Cooper, share smiles while sitting together on a couch.
Then, on June 30, CJ announced that Anthony and Dennis were "finally tying the knot" with a collection of photos showing her and the happy couple in front of Little Vegas Chapel.
CJ added in the caption, "Proving that #loveislove even if it takes a couple decades to find the perfect wedding cake topper."
