Hoda Kotb Recalls Being Criticized for Adopting Kids in Her 50s

No more embarrassment for mom! Hoda Kotb spoke about the heartbreaking moment when her decision to adopt at 50 was called into question.

“I will never forget this. I received a letter at home addressed to me in someone’s handwriting, ”recalled 58-year-old Kotb on Wednesday, April 12, in the issue Today with Hoda and Jenna. “I opened the letter, and it was something like: “How dare you bring a child into this world at such an age. Don’t you know what you’re doing with this child?”

Journalist who adopted daughters Hayley, 6, and Hope, 3, in February 2017 and April 2019, respectively, with a former fiancé. Joel Schiffman – noted how much it hurt her to read the comments of fans.

“It went on and on and it took my breath away because it really was my oh (moment),” the daytime talk show co-host continued. “I was scared. I thought, ‘Is this something smart of me? Am I helping or ultimately hurting?’ I thought about that.”

Kotb recalled that she “felt awful” looking at the document, especially after thinking that someone “went through all this hardship” to give it to her.

Former NBC date line The correspondent, however, turned to her own upbringing as a way to see light through the darkness.

“My father died when I was in college. And I remember thinking that we have parents for a (certain) time. I know the foundation he left behind. I know it was worth every second of that time,” she told the co-host. Jenna Bush Hager on Wednesday. “So I thought about that too. He can hit you where you’re most vulnerable.”

Earlier this year, Kotb was surprised when she missed several gigs in February. The Emmy winner returned to the air in March and revealed that her daughter Hope was “in intensive care for several days and in the hospital for just over a week.” She said Savanna Guthrie at the time when Hope was at home and she was “so happy” to see that she was getting better.

On Wednesday, Kotb shared her emotional story to express solidarity with Ariana Grandewho made headlines on Tuesday, April 11 for speaking out about body shaming. While Today the co-host addressed shame at her age, Grande, 29, addressed fans by comparing her physique to years past in public.

Wicked The actress revealed via TikTok that “the body you compare my current body to was the most unhealthy version of my body.” Grande recalled that at the time she “drank a lot of antidepressants, drank them and ate badly.”

The ‘Dangerous Woman’ singer confessed, “(I was) at the lowest point of my life when I looked like what you would call ‘my healthy’. It really wasn’t my health.”

The REM Beauty founder also asked her followers to “be gentle with each other,” noting that “you never know what someone is going through.” She further explained that everyone should be “softer and less comfortable commenting on people’s bodies. No matter what.”

Kotb and Bush Hager, 41, went along with Grande’s pleas for kindness during their speech on Wednesday.

“We need to stop commenting on women’s bodies. Period”, Everything is great in its time — said the author to his co-host. “You said very well: “We are in our bodies.”

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Kotb echoed the words of the former first daughter, adding: “I walk in my body. I don’t need you to tell me what I already know. I know. I live here. It’s me.”