‘Today’ Hoda Kotb Shares Devastating Events That Took Her Down
In a powerful Today segment, Hoda Kotb revealed intimate details behind the devastating events that nearly took everything from her.
Things got a little emotional on Thursday’s episode of Today With Hoda And Jenna. Hoda Kotb and co-host Jenna Bush Hager began a discussion about personal health with guest host Maria Shriver. In a segment titled “Own Your Health,’ the trio began a chat that talked about a variety of health-related topics.
Kotb then had the opportunity to speak about a particularly trying time in her life that nearly pushed her to the brink. Not only did she have to process a traumatic health issue, but she also had to deal with a failing relationship as well.
The Devastating Events That Shook Hoda Kotb
In 2007, the TV personality underwent a successful double mastectomy. Kotb noted that her battle with cancer was especially hard during that time because her personal life was also taking a hit.”I went through a divorce and breast cancer simultaneously, and I remembered in that time barely functioning, and I was thinking to myself like, ‘Is this it? Is this how it goes?'” she said.
A year after her mastectomy, her divorce with tennis coach Burzis Kanga was finalized. Kotb and Kanga married in December 2005 in the Dominican Republic. But after only 14 months, Kotb filed for divorce. Kanga spoke to Radar Online about his short-lived relationship with Kotb. “The divorce happened under difficult conditions,” he said. “Those were personal reasons for both of us. In hindsight, there was 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.”
Hoda Kotb On The Lowest Moments During Her Struggles
Kotb revealed that dealing with both events at the same time took its toll on her. “I was thinking about some of my lowest moments during that time what was contributing to all of it was I was in horrible health. And I didn’t care about that piece of it, and you don’t realize how bad it gets and then you’re compounding it. Your health gets worse, because you’re not well, and it went on and on,” said Kotb.
“You realize when you’re on solid ground again, and you look back, and you’re like, ‘Oh my gosh I didn’t take an hour for myself.’ There were all the things I never ever did that I am doing today that make such a difference,” she concluded.
After Kotb took time to heal from her battle with breast cancer and failed marriage, she met New York financier Joel Schiffman in 2013. In February of 2017, the couple adopted their first child. Haley Joy Kotb. Two years later, they adopted their second child, Hope Catherine Kotb. Despite announcing their split in 2022, Kotb and Schiffman have remained close friends as they co-parent their children.
What was your reaction to Kotb’s heartfelt story? Let us know in the comments section below.
- NBC Cancels Two Reality Shows In Programming Shakeup - March 18, 2024
- ‘NCIS’ A Closer Look At Mark Harmon’s Feud With Former Co-Star - March 18, 2024
- ‘TAR’ Rod Gardner’s Net Worth: Does He Need The Money? - March 14, 2024