Hoda Kotb makes a rare comment about her relationship with Joel Schiffman

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By Caroline Blair

Hoda Kotb gave rare insight into her relationship with her ex-fiancé, Joel Schiffman.

The “Today with Hoda and Jenna” co-host was speaking with Jenna Bush Hager about the importance of children seeing their parents treat each other with love when she mentioned the financier.

“I’ve only been with super polite people. For example, when I get up from the table, Joel gets up every time – every time – even if it’s a normal dinner,” Kotb said on a pre-recorded episode of the morning show, which aired Thursday.

Bush Hager, 42, gushed that Kotb, 59, probably saw his own father treating his mother similarly, so that’s what he “expects” from a partner.

“Yes, it’s what you deserve, what you feel, ‘Oh, yes, I deserve it,’ but I think it also shows, when your children look, ‘Oh, this is how two people treat each other’ (and) not like, ‘Bring me this!’” Kotb continued.

Kotb mentioned Schiffman, 66, again later in the show when the co-hosts talked about accidentally wearing her boyfriend’s clothes.

“The only thing I did was Joel and I had the exact same pair of sneakers, except I assumed they were different sizes, and when I put his sneaker on and it fit him, he said, ‘Where are my sneakers?’ I say, ‘I don’t know,’ and he says, ‘They were right here!'”

Kotb confirmed that she had accidentally grabbed her pair and “they fit.”

“That was sad!” Kotb said as he laughed. “I said, ‘Those are your sneakers?!’ He said, ‘Yes,’ and I said, ‘Oh my God, that’s sad!'”

Kotb previously gave viewers glimpses into her relationship with Schiffman, as the exes continue to co-parent their two adopted daughters: Haley, 7, and Hope, 4.

The couple split in December 2021 after dating for eight years and being engaged for two.

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“It’s not like anything happened,” Kotb clarified on “Today with Hoda & Jenna” in January 2022.

“They say 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.”

However, the “Today” show co-host has moved on and been dating a mystery man who Bush Hager set her up with.

Kotb revealed earlier this month that they were planning a third date after the first two went well.

The “Hope Is A Rainbow” author has yet to share the identity of the new guy, but Page Six obtained photos of her walking with a man in New York City last week.