Hoda Kotb’s Heartfelt Father’s Day Tribute to Ex-Fiancé Joel Schiffman
Time to cut through the typical celebrity spin: Hoda Kotb celebrated Father’s Day by saluting a familiar face—her ex-fiancé Joel Schiffman—in a rare public acknowledgment of their enduring co-parenting bond. The veteran Today show co-host posted a warm Instagram image on June 15 that featured Joel beaming with their daughters, Haley, 8, and Hope, 6. She captioned it simply, “A great father’s day for a great dad! Happy father’s day Joel!”—proof that respect and gratitude can thrive even after romance fades.
Kotb and Schiffman, who met around 2014 and became engaged in 2020, formally announced their split in 2022 after eight years together. Despite calling off the wedding, the pair have maintained a united front when it comes to raising their two adopted daughters, welcoming Haley in 2017 and Hope in 2019. Sources close to E! News confirm that the post wasn’t just for show: Kotb genuinely values Schiffman’s parental devotion and character.
In an August 2024 interview with E! News, Kotb reflected, “Joel is one of the best people I know, and he really is a great human being. And I feel like I’m a pretty great human being, but sometimes two great human beings together isn’t quite enough to make it work.” That candid admission echoes her Today show announcement in 2022, in which she clarified there was no scandal prompting their split. “It’s not like something happened,” Kotb told viewers. “Sometimes relationships are meant to be there for a reason, for a season or for a lifetime, and I feel like ours was meant to be there for a season.”
Her perspective on motherhood and adoption has also made headlines. In July 2024, People Magazine quoted Kotb saying, “I don’t regret one day, not one minute, not one second of our time together because it brought me here. I have two incredible children I share with him. And it’s because of Joel that I have Haley and Hope, without question. I think I might have been too afraid to do it alone.” That level of transparency cements Kotb’s reputation as a thoughtful journalist and dedicated mom.
Father’s Day 2024 has been a who’s-who of celebrity tributes. Justin Bieber quipped a veiled warning caption alongside a middle-finger emoji for his first Father’s Day as new dad to Jack, while the Duke of Wales received a heart-melting message from George, Charlotte and Louis via Kensington Palace’s Instagram. Justin Timberlake shared a rare family snap with wife Jessica Biel and sons Silas and Phineas, calling fatherhood “the biggest reward.” Meanwhile, David Beckham praised his four children with Victoria as his “favorite job in life,” reminding fans that even athletes can get sentimental.
In a lighter note, reality star Savannah Chrisley celebrated her parents Todd and Julie’s release from prison, posting a heartfelt reunion video. Long story short: from A-list singers to royal heirs, Father’s Day 2024 has been awash in declarations of love—and Hoda Kotb’s salute to Joel Schiffman ranks among the most gracious. And there you have it. Make of that what you will.
Sources: Celebrity Storm and E! News, People Magazine, Today Show
Attribution: Creative Commons Licensed
