Hoda Kotb left Jenna Bush Hager horrified after speaking out about her controversial bedroom habit – which her Today co-host soon began begging her to stop.
Today’s stars were discussing the viral trend of having a snack drawer under their bed on Tuesday’s show when mother-of-two Kotb shared her penchant for eating Ritz crackers under the sheets.
“A lot of people like to snack in bed. I feel you and I am with you. I think it’s a good idea,” said Kotb, 59.
“Disagree,” replied Bush Hager, 41.
Hoda Kotb, 59, and Jenna Bush Hager, 41, got into a debate about the premiere’s controversial bedroom habits on the Today show on Tuesday.
Kotb shared that she enjoys eating a round of Ritz crackers in bed, saying “it’s comfy.” Bush Hager made a face of disgust, arguing that she had crumbs in her sheets
Kotb showed how she takes her hand and wipes the crumbs off her bed and on her bedroom floor. Bush Hager claimed she was going to get mice to do this.
The Hope is a Rainbow author insisted that “a pocket of Ritz crackers is a good thing” while mimicking the way she eats them in bed in her New York apartment.
Bush Hager grimaced in disgust as he asked, “Can you imagine what a pocket of – first of all – Ritz cookies does to your sheets?”
Kotb explained that she “loves Ritz crackers,” but her co-star doesn’t take them.
“Hoda, you have to stop eating in bed,” Bush Hager told her.
‘For what?’ she asked.
Kotb claimed that “it’s comfortable” to eat in bed, just as Bush Hager pointed out that she had crumbs in her sheets.
“Here, let me show you what you do,” the mother-of-two said, showing how she takes his hand and wipes crumbs from his bed and on his bedroom floor.
“So there are little mice everywhere in your New York apartment who like to come and eat a Ritz cracker,” said Bush Hager, unimpressed.
Kotb also opened up about her love of Ritz crackers last month when she and her Today co-stars shared their favorite “girls’ dinners” to eat at home.
The Today star explained that she sprinkles cheese on the crackers and puts them in the microwave to cook them, saying a “melted Ritz” is “better” than a regular Ritz.
Ironically, when Bush Hager offered Kotb to get her a snack drawer under her bed for Christmas, she objected to the idea.
“I actually don’t like bugs, so if there’s a slight chance of bugs, I wouldn’t,” she explained.
“Okay, so because you don’t like bugs, I’d keep the Ritz out of your bed,” Bush Hager advised. “There are still crumbs.”
Kotb also gushed about her love for Ritz crackers last month when she and her Today co-stars shared their favorite “girls’ dinners” to eat at home.
“Mine is super simple. It involves 15 seconds in the microwave,” she said, pointing out that it’s not technically cooking.
She explained that she sprinkles cheese on the crackers and puts them in the microwave to bake, claiming that a “melted Ritz” is “better” than a regular Ritz. She also likes to spread peanut butter and jelly on the crackers for a sweeter option.
Kotb, who celebrated his 59th birthday this month, has never been shy about sharing his somewhat unusual eating habits.
A few years ago, she treated herself to fried chicken after taping the NBC News coronavirus special – and ate the meal off her kitchen floor.
“One of the things that cheers me up and cheers me up is fried chicken,” she explained. “Before coming here for the special, I ordered fried chicken with dipping sauce, fries and onion rings and left them at the apartment.”
Kotb said she and co-anchor Savannah Guthrie finished the live show at 11 p.m. and was back home just 15 minutes later. With her daughters Haley Joy and Hope Catherine in bed, she had time to relax.
“I entered. I took a paper plate. I put chicken, fries, onion rings in the microwave,” she recalled. “I sat on the floor, turned on Friends, dipped that chicken — it was almost like KFC – in the sauce. I have never been so happy.
Kotb said sitting on the floor and eating such a tasty meal reminded her of a sweet treat when she was a child.
“Once in a while we were allowed to have this stuff,” she explained. “It just made me feel good.”
