Hoda Kotb and Joel Schiffman have called off their engagement and ended their eight year relationship, after deciding that they would be “better off as friends.” The 57-year-old Today anchor and the 63-year-old financier started dating in 2013 and got engaged back in November 2019; they have two adopted daughters together – 4-year-old Haley Joy and 2-year-old Hope Catherine – and they said they will both be doing everything they can to co-parent their children in the best way they can.
Hoda made the announcement on Today on the Monday January 31st show, after declaring that she couldn’t hide the truth any longer. “I wanted to address something that, I think a few of you maybe noticed. People have written in and asked why I wasn’t wearing my engagement ring,” Hoda began.
"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." Kotb and Schiffman appear to have come to the decision to end their relationship at the end of last year, saying they didn’t want to go into the new year as a couple. "We decided that we are going to start this New Year and begin it on our new path, as loving parents to our adorable, delightful children and as friends," Hoda continued.
"It's not like something happened. They say that 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." Hoda then wanted to confirm that she had nothing but positive words to say about her now ex-fiancé, adding: "He's a great guy. He's a very kind and loving person, and I feel privileged to have spent eight years with him. We’re both good, we’re both going on our way, and we’ll be good parents to those lovely kids."
As expected, many fans and co-workers lent their support to Kotb following the announcement of her and Schiffman's separation, including her friend and former co-star Kathie Lee Gifford. "My darling Hoda, I am truly so proud of the way you have handled a very difficult and painful decision," Gifford wrote on Instagram. "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."
