TV
March 1, 2023 | 7:39
The “Today” program revealed on Wednesday that Hoda Kotb has been absent from her post for more than a week due to a “family health issue”.
The reporter’s colleague, Craig Melvin, explained: ‘We can tell you that Hoda has a family health issue that she is taking care of.
“We can’t wait to see Hoda and Savannah [Guthrie] back on the desk,” he continued, referring to Guthrie’s recent COVID-19 diagnosis.
Kotb has yet to fix the situation.
Thousands of fans have expressed concern for the 58-year-old following her absence from ‘Today’ and ‘Today With Hoda and Jenna’ since Feb. 17.
His “Today” channel podcast “Making Space” — which typically releases episodes every Monday morning — has also not released a new episode since Feb. 20.
Kotb’s Instagram page also attracted 2.2 million followers after his page shifted from posts about his family and work to inspirational quotes.
“Choose hope,” read one Monday morning graphic, while another said, “Sometimes miracles are just good people with good hearts.”
She also shared four other statements about being “brave” and “strong” amid “dark clouds”.
Hundreds of fans commented on each post wishing him well and saying how much they missed his presence on NBC’s morning shows.
Amid Kotb’s absence, his “Today” co-anchor Savannah Guthrie unexpectedly had to flee the set in the middle of the Tuesday morning broadcast.
Guthrie began hosting the morning show at 7 a.m. but did not return after a commercial break half an hour later.
Sheinelle Jones – who originally co-hosted ‘Today 3rd Hour’ but replaced Kotb – later revealed that Guthrie, 51, was “taken home” after testing positive for COVID-19.
“Savannah, we love you. Wishing you a speedy recovery,” Jones, 44, said.
NBC hasn’t shared publicly when Guthrie will be able to return or who will take both his and Kotb’s main slots on the “Today” show.
“World News Tonight” anchor Tom Llamas, “Today 3rd Hour” co-hosts Craig Melvin and Carson Daly, and “Today” regular Al Roker all appeared on “Today” .
Willie Geist and Jones both replaced Kotb last week alongside Jenna Bush Hager.
Kotb is a mother to two daughters – Haley Joy, 5, and Hope Catherine, 3 – who she co-parents with her ex-fiancé, Joel Schiffman.
Although the two called off their engagement in December 2021, she gushed People about creating a “healthy mix” with the “big daddy” in August of the following year.
“He will have a Saturday, and I will do on Sunday. We change every week,” she explained at the time. “He’ll take the girls out and do fun things, and I’ll take some quiet time.”
As for how the little ones handled the transition, Kotb said, “They love it.”
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