Hoda Kotb’s New Book Reveals Details About Her Breakup with Joel Schiffman
Hoda Kotb shared insights about her choice to part ways with her longtime partner, Joel Schiffman, in her latest book.
“Our decision to separate wasn’t made lightly, but we firmly believed it was the right choice,” Kotb, 61, expressed in Jump and Find Joy: Embracing Change in Every Season of Life, which was published on Tuesday, September 23. “It came from love, not resentment, which is significant.”
Kotb and Schiffman, 67, began their relationship in 2013, taking two years to go public. After a year of dating, Kotb shared her desire to explore adoption with Schiffman.
“Joel looked me straight in the eyes and confidently replied, ‘I don’t need a minute, and the answer is yes.’ I literally collapsed into his arms, tears streaming down my face,” she recounted. “I cried, feeling an immense release of thankfulness. It was one of the first moments I had actually uttered the word ‘adoption.’”
The couple adopted two daughters, Haley Joy, now 8, and Hope Catherine, now 6. After nearly ten years together, viewers of Today noticed Kotb had stopped wearing her engagement ring, leading to her announcing their split during a January 2022 broadcast.
“There was no infidelity, no scandal, no major crisis. It sounds cliché, but honestly, we were just drifting apart,” she wrote. “There wasn’t any drama akin to what you hear in country songs. The classic heartbreak wasn’t part of our story.”
Schiffman proposed to Kotb in November 2019, but their wedding plans were postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020.
“Some might find it odd that Joel and I bypassed marriage and divorce to focus solely on co-parenting as friends,” Kotb revealed in the book. “Yet, when you genuinely care for someone the way we do, it’s simple. We want the best for ourselves and our children. Joel is an exceptional person, a fantastic father, and a great friend.”
Hoda Kotb is determined not to let past breakups hinder her pursuit of joy and love. “Life is a beautiful experience. Step out, try new things, and break out of your routine,” she encouraged in an interview with Entertainment Tonight in March 2024. “I believe life should be embraced and experienced fully. I […]”
While there was nothing inherently “wrong” in her relationship with Schiffman, Kotb noted that things didn’t feel quite “right” either.
“When your partner is kind and chemistry exists, it’s easy to ignore that you might be navigating different directions,” Kotb shared. “However, when you take an honest look at your paths… the truth becomes unavoidable.”
Jump and Find Joy is now available.
