Things got a little awkward on Today with Hoda & Jenna when a dating expert suggested to Hoda Kotb that she needed to “step out” of her “comfort zone.”
Hoda, 59, and her co-host Jenna Bush Hager invited matchmaker Devyn Simone into the studio Tuesday morning to help them answer some dating dilemmas for viewers tuning in from home.
But Hoda ended up questioning one of Devyn’s “intimidating” tips about meeting people in the real world.
When asked by a fan of the show for advice on how to “meet men organically,” Devyn admitted that she’s been asked that question “a lot,” and Hoda commented, “By the way, for a lot of younger people too, because they’re used to living life on apps and stuff, it’s hard to do something in person with a stranger.”
Devyn then advised, ‘So the first thing we’re going to do is remember to go above and beyond. So, find common ground, ask a question, and be real. Find common ground… when you see this person, are you at a coffee shop? Do you both hang out? Did they order something similar to what you like?’
Things got a little awkward on Tuesday when Hoda Kotb and Jenna Bush Hager discussed dating dilemmas.
Hoda ended up questioning dating expert Devyn Simone’s “intimidating” advice
She continued: “And then be real. Your hair doesn’t have to be perfect, your smile doesn’t have to be perfect. Being authentic goes a long way and if you’re feeling self-conscious, practice in front of the mirror.”
However, Hoda wasn’t convinced it was that easy, telling Devyn: ‘I think it takes courage to walk up to a complete stranger in line at the coffee shop and say, ‘Hey, are you coming here? Is this your regular spot?’ It can be intimidating, especially since she seems to be feeling a bit withdrawn.
“Maybe there’s something about meeting people that’s second nature,” the mother of two then suggested, while Devyn replied, “But you have to get out of your comfort zone, Hoda!”
“Really? But I’m like…” Hoda replied as Jenna finished her sentence for her and said, “Yeah, I know what you mean, like singles night at the bar,” before asking Devyn, “Do they still have those?”
Devyn, looking unimpressed, replied, “Yeah, but I don’t… go… but I do other things too,” before laughing awkwardly when Jenna suggested, “Or like joining a sports team?”
Devyn was more on board with that and replied, “Yeah! Or a running club or something would be great.”
Jenna then said, ‘But I also wonder what’s the worst that could happen. He’s not your person. What’s the best that could happen? He is. Tell yourself, “Who cares?” You’ll never see him again!’
Hoda’s comments on dating come less than a month after she revealed the “top relationship complaints” she’s received from men in the past.
Hoda simply replied, “Really?” when Devyn told her to “get out of her comfort zone.”
Devyn didn’t seem impressed when Jenna Bush Hager suggested the women could attend a “singles night” at a bar.
The 59-year-old TV host was previously engaged to financier Joel Schiffman, but they split in 2022.
Hoda and Jenna were discussing Glen Powell’s recent comments about how he’s not “chasing love” but would “welcome it with open arms” if it came along, when the TV host, who recently hinted that she’s still single, decided to share some details about her own personal life.
“I think sometimes love comes when you’re not looking for it,” she told Jenna. “It’s like when you’re chasing everything, when you make it yours, sometimes you miss it because you’re too busy looking for it.”
“But I think what he’s saying is, ‘I’m very busy, I have a busy life, and it takes a special kind of person to be in this life.'”
The TV host, who split from fiancé Joel Schiffman in 2022, continued: ‘And I think it’s hard when you’re with a busy person because we’re both busy people and one of the biggest relationship complaints I get is, “I don’t have enough time. I need more time,” and I get that, because your life is sliced into a pie.
The duo then discussed a recent article that claimed some good places to meet a romantic partner, aside from an app or a bar, are dog parks, an alumni event, or playing on a sports team.
Hoda laughed off the claim, saying, “I think sometimes women try to put themselves in places where men would be, like a sports bar… ‘let’s go hang out with your friends,’ even if you’re not that interested, but you’ll go and think, ‘I’ll meet someone cute there and it’ll be fun.'”
“I think it’s good, but I also think you have to meet them doing something you really enjoy doing, because pretty soon you’ll be like, ‘Do you want to watch the Steelers again?’ and they’ll be like, ‘No!'”
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