Hoda Kotb attends the 70th anniversary celebration of NBC’s “Today.".Photo: Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images
Hoda Kotbis reflecting on a past romance.
On Thursday’s episode ofToday with Hoda & Jenna, the daytime broadcaster, 59, opened up to her co-hostJenna Bush Hager, 41, about the “hot” way she met her police officer ex-boyfriend at a laundromat.
The conversation began with the two hosts discussing former coupleSofía VergaraandJoe Manganiello, whoannounced their splittwo months ago.
TheMagic Mikeactor, 46, is now “casually seeing"Winning Timeactress Caitlin O’Connor. A source told PEOPLE Tuesday that he and the 33-year-old actressmet “in the hot tub"at an after party for the HBO series.
“I will say, sometimes that date after that heartbreak does make you realize,” Hager acknowledged to her co-host. “Like, you don’t have to be in a serious relationship, but that first person, you’re like, ‘Oh, I still got it.’”
Hoda Kotb (L) and Jenna Bush (R) Hager on Tuesday, January 3, 2023.Nathan Congleton/NBC via Getty
Nathan Congleton/NBC via Getty
Kotb agreed, adding that sometimes people meet someone in a “run-down state after a breakup” when they’re feeling “fragile.”
“And that person is the knight in shining armor,” she said. “I think I told you, that happened to me. I had a terrible breakup and I was sitting in the laundromat and I was so upset. I still remember sitting, hugging my knees, waiting for my laundry to be over. And a police officer walked in.”
She recalled that the officer asked if she was okay, to which she said she wasn’t. Then, she explained, the two began dating.
“It was hot!” she declared.
Hoda Kotb attends the 2022 Broadcasting & Cable Hall of Fame at The Ziegfeld Ballroom on April 14, 2022 in New York City.amie McCarthy/Getty
amie McCarthy/Getty
Hager questioned what the “mistake” her co-host was referring to was, likening the situation to something straight out of a “Colleen Hoovernovel.”
“We dated for awhile, and then after awhile, I realized he was a rescuer,” Kotb recalled. “And after awhile I didn’t need rescuing. ‘I’m good. This is me when I’m good.’ And he was like, ‘I’ll do it, I’ll help you.’”
The daytime broadcaster explained that she ultimately realized she’s actually a “strong person” who didn’t need any rescuing, and that her ex-boyfriend just happened to meet her when she was in a fragile place.
“You need to go back to that laundromat,” Hager joked. “You never know who you’ll meet!”
Hoda Kotb and Jenna Bush Hager.Nathan Congleton/NBCU Photo Bank/Getty
Nathan Congleton/NBCU Photo Bank/Getty
Manganiellofiled for divorcefrom Vergara, 51, in July, citing “irreconcilable differences,” two days after they announced their split in a joint statement. The former couple was married for seven years, having wed in November 2015.
Since their separation, theModern Familyactress has been keeping a positive outlook on life andembracing change.
C Flanigan/Getty
“A lot of changes, a lot of good and craziness and bad things happen and good things happen,” she toldEntertainment Tonighton Wednesdayof her life. “You know, what makes life so entertaining and interesting.”
“I can’t complain. I’ve had a great, great time,” the actress added. “There’s always time for more good stuff coming.”
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Today with Hoda & Jennaairs weekdays at 10 a.m. ET on NBC.
source: people.com
