Real-Life Love
Is Hoda Kotb Back With Ex Joel Schiffman? Former ‘Today’ Host Posts Photos of Him With Daughters
Hoda Kotb honored Joel Schiffman, the father of her two daughters, on Father’s Day, and the tribute has fans buzzing about a possible reconciliation between the couple. Kotb and Schiffman split in 2022 after more than eight years together.
On Sunday, June 15, the former Today host shared adorable photos of Schiffman with Haley and Hope. They adopted their daughters in 2017 and 2019, respectively.
“A great father’s day for a great dad !” Kotb captioned her post. “Happy father’s day Joel!” It appeared that they all spent the holiday together as a family, although that was not confirmed.
View this post on Instagram
Kotb and Schiffman started dating in 2013, then went public with their romance in 2015. After taking home their girls, Schiffman popped the question in November 2019. They had plans for a destination wedding, but they were derailed amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
The wedding never happened, though, as Kotb and Schiffman called off their engagement in January 2022. “It’s not like something happened,” she shared on an episode of Today. “They say sometimes relationships are meant to be there for a reason or a season or for a lifetime. And I feel like ours was meant to be there for a season.”
The two have proven that they’re on amicable terms since their split. They spent Christmas 2024 together and reunited again just a few weeks later for Haley’s birthday. In early 2025, fans also speculated that the two had gotten back together when Kotb was spotted wearing a ring on her left hand during a Today broadcast. While a reconciled romance has not been confirmed, Kotb’s supporters are still holding out hope.
“He sure is a great dad! How I wish you were still with Joel!” someone commented, while another person wrote, “Aww, love seeing Joel! Happy Father’s Day!” Someone else also said, “Wish you two were still a couple you made a good one.”
Kotb was previously married to Burzis Kanga from 2005 to 2008.
