Hoda Kotb revealed this week that her former Today Show co-host Kathie Lee Gifford once shared some of her most personal information on live television without her permission.
The 58-year-old journalist stopped by Watch What Happens Live on Tuesday when she admitted Kathie Lee, 69, had told the audience she was getting divorced during an ill-timed Valentine’s Day episode.
Hoda told host Andy Cohen that the information “wasn’t for out here,” though Kathie, who recently fell out with Kelly Ripa over her memoir, didn’t seem to understand the memo.
She shared the humorous anecdote while sitting down with her current co-host Jenna Bush Hager after fans asked via video chat if any of her co-hosts had ever shared private information without her permission.
The cat is out of the bag! Hoda Kotb, 58, revealed Tuesday on Watch What Happens Live that her former Today Show co-host Kathie Lee Gifford, 69, once spilled the beans about her divorce after confidentially telling her about it
Hoda told Andy that she spilled the beans on Kathie Lee about their divorce while they were both getting ready in the Today Show’s makeup room.
The TV presenter divorced her husband Burzis Kanga in 2008.
“Kath did it, she threw a giant grenade once,” she said. “I told her I was married before and I met my husband on Valentine’s Day and I got the divorce papers on Valentine’s Day and it was Valentine’s Day.”
When Hoda and Kathie Lee arrived on set, which was decked out with flowers in celebration of Valentine’s Day, their co-host dropped her bombshell.
Bad timing: “Kath did it, she threw a giant grenade once,” Hoda said. “I told her I was married before and I met my husband on Valentine’s Day and I got the divorce papers on Valentine’s Day and it was Valentine’s Day”; seen in 2019
Oh oh! “We’re going to the set. It’s all decorated with flowers and hearts and everything and I say, “Good morning! Happy Valentine’s Day!” And she looks at me and says, “Not for you!” she said
Private conversation: ‘I’m leaving, ‘What are you doing?’ But I remember that the grenade fell right on the table. I didn’t know what to do,” she continued. “I was so new I didn’t know what to say. I say, “That was makeup room talk. That wasn’t for out here because we’re happy out here.”
“We’re going to the set. It’s all decorated with flowers and hearts and everything and I say, “Good morning! Happy Valentine’s Day!” And she looks at me and says, “Not for you!” she said.
‘I say, “What are you doing?” But I remember that the grenade fell right on the table. I didn’t know what to do,” she continued. “I was so new I didn’t know what to say. I say, “That was makeup room talk. It wasn’t for out here because we’re happy out here.”
Her story seemed to indicate that she was referring to their 2008 divorce, which would have been during her second year hosting the late hour of Today and Kathie Lee’s first year joining her.
Following their divorce, Hoda was in a relationship with Joel Schiffman from 2013 until earlier this year.
Early impression: Her story seemed to indicate she was referring to their 2008 divorce, which would have been during her second year hosting the late hour of Today and Kathie Lee’s first year joining her
Matchmaker: After the split in January, Hoda shared that Jenna had offered her to set up new dates, although she was slow to take up the offer
After their split in January, Hoda shared that Jenna had offered to set her up on new dates, though she was slow to take up the offer.
“Have I been on any dates since Jenna said she was going to set me up? Not yet,’ she admitted. “But I’m saying it anyway because I actually think Jenna has a really good track record of tricking people.”
As evidence, she said, “There’s someone who got married because of a Jenna setup.”
Jenna joked that she was working hard to come up with some options.
“Things are coming. It has to be the right guy, right?’ She said.
In good hands: She did, however, rely on her co-host’s matchmaking skills. “There’s Someone Who Married Because of a Jenna Setup”