Who is Hoda Kotb and is she married?
HODA Kotb is a broadcast journalist and an anchor on NBC's Today Show, which she co-hosts on weekday mornings with Jenna Bush Hager.
She announced in 2019 that she was marrying her longtime fiancé, but in January 2022, the two announced their separation.
Who is Hoda Kotb?
Hoda Kotb is an Egyptian-American broadcast journalist, television personality, and author.
The 57-year-old is a co-anchor of NBC's Today Show and co-hosts the show's entertainment-focused fourth hour.
She was formerly a correspondent for Dateline NBC.
Kotb graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in broadcast journalism from Virginia Tech.
Read More On The Sun
In March 2007, Kotb underwent a mastectomy and reconstructive surgery for breast cancer and has since become an advocate for breast cancer awareness.
Is Hoda Kotb married?
Kotb had been in a relationship with New York financier Joel Schiffman since 2013.
The couple met when Kotb was speaking at an event for Wall Street professionals and she announced live on November 25, 2019, that they had gotten engaged.
"I was totally shocked," she said. "He had a good poker face."
Most read in Celebrity
"We ended up having a little dinner on the beach," clarifying that they had been in the middle of a tropical vacation.
"And he was like, 'I have something else I would like to say,' and he said some beautiful things, and then he got down on one knee. Then he said, 'Would you be my wife?'''
Kotb and Schiffman have two adopted daughters, Haley Joy Kotb and Hope Catherine Kotb, and planned to adopt a third child.
reported they had filled out the paperwork in October 2020 but the process had been "extremely slow" due to the Covid pandemic.
“I thought it would be a different game,” Hoda said on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen in July 2021.
“They said that a lot of people who maybe normally would feel like it would be something they’d want to do — have a child and give it to someone to raise because they couldn’t — are holding on to things because they don’t have anything in that moment. That’s what I’ve heard from our agency.”
She added: “Everything’s slow but they say wait wisely and just be, so we’re just going to be.”
They still had not adopted their third child by the end of 2021, and in January 2022, Kotb and Schiffman announced their split.
Kotb revealed the break-up on The Today Show and told viewers: "Joel and I have had a lot of prayerful and meaningful conversations over the holidays and we decided that we are better as friends and parents than we are as an engaged couple.
“So we decided we are going to start this new year on our new path as loving parents to our adorably delightful children and as friends.”
Who is Joel Schiffman?
Schiffman works as the Head of Intermediary Distribution, North America at Schroder Investment Management.
Prior to his current role, he was the Vice President & Director of Financial Institutions at Janus Henderson Investors.
Schiffman went to the University of California and earned his Bachelor's degree in economics.
Kotb told in March 2018, that she knew Schiffman was the one.
"I have never teased a marriage," she said. "Joel will be with me the rest of my life. I have no doubt."
Kotb told after their engagement that she couldn't believe that at 50 years old she had met the one and that at 55 and 56 years old she would have children.
"It just shows you, the perfect life for you, and this is for me, is exactly as it comes,” Kotb said.
“Everything may look out of order, and it kind of feels it a little bit, but it is all right on time."
However, when announcing their split, Kotb said Schiffman was a "great guy" and they would continue to "be good parents to those two lovely kids," but that it was time to move on.
"It's not like something happened," Kotb said at the time on .
"They say sometimes relationships are meant to be there for a reason, or a season, or for a lifetime. And I feel like ours was meant to be there for a season."
Who is Hoda Kotb's ex-husband?
Kotb married former University of New Orleans tennis coach, Burzis Kanga in 2005.
The couple was married for two years before it ended in divorce in 2008.
“We had some differences,” Kanga told in 2018. “My father was ill. (Kotb) was ill. It was a difficult time. Those were personal reasons for both of us.”
“The divorce happened under difficult conditions,” he said, not adding what Kotb's illness was.
However, she revealed that she had been diagnosed with breast cancer in 2007.
Kanga added: “Those were personal reasons for both of us. In hindsight, there was [a] level of immaturity on my part, mistakes I made. It was unfortunate we were married for a short time. It’s a shame it transpired that way.”
In 2019, Kotb revealed on The Today Show that she strongly disliked Valentine's Day for two reasons.
“Valentine’s Day, I’ll be honest with you, is not my favorite holiday of the year,” she explained. “I met my first husband on Valentine’s Day. And we signed our divorce papers on Valentine’s Day.”
READ MORE SUN STORIES
Read More on The US Sun
However, despite their differences, Kanga continued to tell Radar that he will always respect his ex-wife.
“I will always cherish our memories,” he said. “She is the epitome of class. I think the world of her. We had great memories together.”