Kathie Lee Gifford supports pal Hoda Kotb amid split from Joel Schiffman
Hoda Kotb received a message of love and support from former “Today” show co-anchor Kathie Lee Gifford after Kotb announced her split from fiancé Joel Schiffman.
“My darling Hoda, I am truly so proud of the way you have handled a very difficult and painful decision,” Gifford wrote in the comments section of an Instagram post about Kotb and Schiffman’s breakup on Monday.
Gifford continued, “As usual you did it with grace and kindness. May God bless you and your precious girls and Joel as well as you continue down this thing called life. I love you.”
Kotb, 57, and Gifford, 68, co-hosted the fourth hour of “Today” together until 2019 when the latter decided to leave the show. (Jenna Bush Hager took over as Kotb’s co-host upon Gifford’s departure.)
At the time of her exit, Gifford raved about “goddess” Kotb.
She said, “In 2008, I joined the ‘Today’ show family intending to spend one year. But something unexpected happened along the way: I fell in love with a beautiful, talented, extraordinary Egyptian goddess named Hoda, and an amazing group of individuals who work tirelessly and joyfully at their jobs, many of them starting at midnight, creating an unprecedented four hours of live television.
“I stayed year after year making a million memories with people I will never forget.”
Aside from Gifford, “Today” correspondent Bobbie Thomas also shared an uplifting message for Kotb following her announcement. Thomas wrote, “Love you soo much @hodakotb ❤️ your grace and kindness is beyond.”
Kotb announced her engagement was over at the top of the “Today” show’s 10 a.m. hour Monday.
“I wanted to address something that, I think a few of you maybe noticed,” she began while live on the air. “People have written in and asked why I wasn’t wearing my engagement ring. Joel and I have had a lot of prayerful and meaningful conversations over the holiday and we decided that we’re better as friends and parents than we are as an engaged couple.”
The journalist continued, “So we decided that we are going to start this new year and begin it kind of on a new path as loving parents to our adorable, delightful children and friends.”
Schiffman, 63, proposed to Kotb in 2019, but their wedding plans were put on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The couple first started dating in 2013 and share two adopted children: Hayley Joy, 4, and Hope Catherine, 2.