Hoda Kotb’s Family Beach Trip: Full Moon and Full Hearts or Just Another Instagram Moment?
Oh, because nothing screams genuine family bonding like a well-timed Instagram post, right? Hoda Kotb, the former co-anchor of the Today show who apparently has never met a public outing she didn’t want to broadcast, decided to take her two daughters—Hope Catherine and Haley Joy—along with her sister Hala on a beach getaway. Because, obviously, the beach is the perfect backdrop for a “full moon, full hearts” photo op, especially when it coincides with a child’s birthday. The photo, which showcases the grinning girl gang under a bright full moon, was posted on April 12—the very day Hope turned six.
Now, let’s not gloss over the fact that this heartwarming trip comes just weeks after Kotb’s departure from the Today show. Talk about timing! In her letter to NBC colleagues, she mentioned something about her daughters and mother deserving “a bigger slice of my time pie.” How generous of her! After all, it’s not like she could’ve thought about doing this before stepping back from her high-profile career. But hey, family is important… right?
In a moment of candidness on the PEOPLE’s Me Becoming Mom podcast, Kotb shared her approach to discussing her daughters’ adoption with them. “You didn’t come from Mommy’s tummy, you came from my heart,” she tells them, and somehow they’re supposed to grasp the weight of that sentiment. Sure, because children just love existential conversations, especially at the tender ages of six and nine.
Kotb’s family dynamics aren’t exactly straight out of a fairy tale either. She shares her children with ex-fiancé Joel Schiffman, who, spoiler alert, is no longer in the picture. The couple called off their engagement in early 2022, which, let’s be honest, likely stirred up a whole new batch of drama that we didn’t sign up for.
And what’s a family getaway without a little celebrity flair? During her last broadcast on Today, Kotb’s daughters made a cameo with none other than Kermit the Frog, who serenaded them with a rendition of “Rainbow Connection.” Because if you’re going to have a bittersweet goodbye, might as well make it memorable with a Muppet, right?
So, here we are, watching as Hoda Kotb basks in the glow of the moonlight with her daughters, all while the rest of us are left to wonder: is this really about family time, or is it just another well-curated moment for social media? But, hey, let’s all act like we’re surprised that celebrities use their family for publicity.
And that’s today’s dose of reality. You’re welcome.
Sources: Celebrity Storm and People Magazine, PEOPLE’s Me Becoming Mom podcast
Attribution: Creative Commons Licensed
