Today viewers skilled one other surprising absence on Tuesday. Savannah Guthrie all of the sudden stepped away from her internet hosting duties—as Hoda Kotb stays off the present for causes which have but to be disclosed.
Broadcast journalist Guthrie, 51, co-hosted about half-an-hour of the NBC morning program alongside Sheinelle Jones earlier than abruptly disappearing from the stay broadcast. Jones was sitting in beside Guthrie instead of the absent Kotb.
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Following Guthrie’s departure, Al Roker joined the desk for a short while earlier than Willie Geist, who is often onscreen throughout the present’s third hour, crammed in.
Flanked by Roker and Carson Daly, Today‘s third-hour co-host Jones gave viewers an replace on Guthrie because the present’s 8 a.m. hour got here to an finish.
“It has been an interesting morning for us. As we said, Savannah left early. She wasn’t feeling great, so she took a COVID test,” Jones defined. “It came back positive.
“So, in fact, as quickly as we discovered, she rushed house to relaxation up,” Jones added. “So Savannah, we love you, wishing you a speedy restoration.”
Per Today, Guthrie stepped away from her camera-facing duties at around 7:30 a.m. ET after testing positive. The outlet reports that she is vaccinated against the virus and has received a booster shot.
Back in May 2022, Guthrie was additionally out of the present’s New York City studios after testing constructive for coronavirus a second time.
Posting a photograph of the take a look at end result on Instagram, she wrote, partly: “So this happened—again! Covid +, air filter on ‘turbo’ and it will be an isolating Mother’s Day for this mama!!! I feel fine, just slight cold so far. Thankful to be vaccinated!”
Meanwhile, Kotb shared a cryptic publish on her Instagram account on Monday. Her ongoing unexplained absence from Today and Today With Hoda & Jenna has sparked continued concern amongst followers.
The Egyptian-American broadcaster, 58, was final seen on screens throughout the February 20 Presidents Day broadcast of Today With Hoda & Jenna. However, that vacation episode was shot on February 17—the identical day as her final stay look.
While Kotb additionally hasn’t addressed her absence instantly, she has been sharing a sequence of cryptic posts on Instagram. Last week, Kotb’s account posted a message that learn, “Here’s to blue skies,” with an illustration exhibiting darkish clouds shifting on.
In Kotb’s absence, a number of personalities underneath NBC’s Today banner have been filling in on her behalf. Today‘s third-hour co-host Craig Melvin and former World News Tonight anchor Tom Llamas joined Guthrie on the principle present. Meanwhile, the fourth hour has seen Geist and Jones host alongside Jenna Bush Hager.
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While she hasn’t been seen on TV, Kotb additionally hasn’t been heard on her Today channel podcast Making Space; new episodes are often launched at 4 a.m. every Monday. The most-recent episode was launched on February 20.
During their respective third and fourth hours of Today, neither Guthrie nor Bush Hagar stated why Kotb has been absent from her position. The pair merely stated that she’s “out,” or launched the short-term co-hosts as being “in” for the star that day.
Kotb’s Instagram posts have sparked an outpouring of concern from followers, one among whom wrote: “Today show just isn’t the same without you! I hope you’re ok, but boy if they are letting you go.. people are going to drop like [flies] watching Today. We Love Hoda!”
“Ok. Seriously…what is going on with you?” commented one other. “I know you have a right to privacy, but your truest fans have noticed your absence and these posts…worried about you.”
“Hoda, we are really worried about you,” one other fan wrote. “Take all the time you need, but I know I collectively speak for everyone when I say we pray you and yours are ok! We miss you!”
Newsweek has reached out to representatives of Kotb and Today for remark.