Today, show host Hoda Kotb revealed her vacation plans — and they involve her ex-fiancé, financier Joel Schiffman.
While the two split in 2022 after getting engaged in 2019, the former couple remains friends and shares two children together: daughters Haley, seven, and Hope, five.
And this year, the two will spend Christmas at her new home in Bronxville, New York, along with the rest of Kotb’s family.
“For us, our Christmas is not big because it’s me, my kids, my mom, my sister Joel,” Kotb shared during the Dec. 24 episode Today with Hoda and Jennawhich had been filmed in advance.
‘We come together. That’s the group, and it’s really just a nice Christmas. So tonight we’re laying out cookies for Santa and carrots. He always seems to like the cookies better,” Kotb continued.
The couple had been dating for six years when they got engaged, but decided to call it quits a few years later.
The journalist broke the news of her breakup while live on air in January 2022.
“Joel and I had a lot of prayers and meaningful conversations over the holidays and we came to the conclusion that we are better as friends and parents than as an engaged couple,” the talk show host said at the time.
Today, host Hoda Kotb revealed her vacation plans — and they involve her ex-fiance, financier Joel Schiffman
While the two split in 2022 after getting engaged in 2019, the former couple remains friends and shares two children together: daughters Haley, 7, and Hope, 5.
“For us, our Christmas is not big because it’s me, my kids, my mom, my sister Joel,” Kotb shared during the Dec. 24 episode of Today With Hoda & Jenna, which was pre-filmed
“So we’ve decided that we’re going to start this new year on our new path as loving parents to our admirably sweet children and as friends,” she continued.
“It’s not like anything happened. They say sometimes relationships are meant to last a reason, a season or a lifetime, this was for a season.’
However, last summer the children’s book author revealed some more insight into what led to her breakup during an appearance on The Jamie Kern Lina Show.
She called her ex ‘the best person’ she knows, but said that things don’t always work out in a relationship.
“And I feel like I’m a pretty great person, but sometimes two great people together aren’t enough to make it work,” she said at the time.
She cryptically added, “I think it’s hard to be in sync when people grow at two different rates.”
According to Kotb, the breakup may have been for the best, as she hoped she would one day find love again.
“When I close my eyes and imagine the romantic part of my life, I can see it very clearly,” she said.
According to Kotb, the divorce may have been for the best, as she hopes to one day find love again.
‘Because for the first time in my life I am myself. Someone meet me. Not the version that you might want, or not the version that I will tweak a little bit to suit your needs or what appeals to you,” she continued.
“This is who I am, and I feel like once you get there, your heart settles. You say, “Oh, this is what it feels like.” So when I close my eyes and see it, I see it.”
Hoda emphasized that she has no idea what her match looks like physically, nor does she really care.
‘I don’t see his face. It’s not like I’m saying, “I want XYZ.” I don’t even care about XYZ, tall, short, bald, not bald,” she shared.
‘I don’t care. But I know the essence and I can sense the soul of that person.’
She added, “I know the way my life is, that’s coming. There are so many things that have taken so much time in my life to come to light and I don’t mind that at all.’
This month is one of Kotb’s last on The Today Show, as she announced in September that she would be leaving her post to spend time with her daughters.
The presenter said she was struggling to juggle being there for her children and doing her best at work.
Her last day on The Today Show will be January 10, 2025.