Jenna Bush Hager Swears on Live Today Show: ‘Blame It on the Tequila?’
Jenna Bush Hager was astounded by her own words during the Today show.
In the Thursday, July 24, episode of Today With Jenna and Friends, Hager reminisced about her long-standing friendship with co-host Willie Geist and his wife, Christina Geist.
“Christina said — I don’t know if it’s appropriate — but he was like, ‘God, [my son] George is being a bit of a handful,’” Hager, 43, recounted. “You can’t phrase it that way. You shouldn’t say it.”
Willie, 50, along with the producers backstage, immediately displayed their disbelief at Hager’s on-air slip.
“Could you repeat it just once?” she inquired, only to be reminded that profanity is off-limits. “Oh, my bad, my bad. Everyone’s looking at me like, ‘Why did you say that?’”
Willie responded, “I’m looking at you like, ‘Why did you say that?’ Just to clarify, my wife would never make such a remark about our beloved 3-year-old son.”
Willie and Christina tied the knot in May 2003. Along with George, now 15, they also have a daughter named Lucie, who is 17.
The blunder unfolded live while Today was honoring National Tequila Day. As she processed the incident, Hager questioned whether the tequila influenced her language.
“I’m embarrassed, and I hardly ever feel that way. Was it the tequila?” she quipped. “I thought it was okay to say it once. That’s just Schitt’s Creek?”
Trying to keep things light, Willie reminded his co-host and close friend to stick to more family-friendly language.
“That’s just a variation of the show’s title,” he clarified. “Let’s avoid any further swearing. We’re live on NBC this morning!”
Regardless, the show must continue. Thursday’s Today With Jenna and Friends episode welcomed special guests like Leanne Morgan and country musician Riley Green.
As Hager tried to regain her composure, she joked that the presence of NBC News journalist Peter Alexander made her feel even more uncomfortable.
“I’m trying to navigate this situation, and here’s Peter Alexander from the White House coming over to remind me,” she stated. “I was told you could say it once! I feel terrible! Peter, please leave. The embarrassment is overwhelming. I’m sorry. I apologize to everyone.”
When Hager voiced her worries about receiving “a call from the boss,” Geist reassured her.
“No worries, you’re fine,” he said. “You’re all good.”
Today With Jenna and Friends airs on NBC weekdays at 10 a.m. ET.
