Hoda Kotb Embraces a Joyful New Chapter While Matt Lauer Struggles
- Hoda Kotb is successfully launching her wellness app, Joy 101, in New York City.
- Matt Lauer is trying to reach out for help, but Hoda isn’t responding.
- Hoda left the Today show in January to focus on health and family.
- Matt’s past scandals have crucially affected his career and personal life.
- Despite enjoying some downtime, Lauer feels stagnant and reminisces about his prime.
- Hoda’s success highlights the stark contrast to Lauer’s current struggles.
Hoda Soars While Matt Sinks Gradually Into Obscurity
Hoda Kotb is riding high as she dives into her new wellness business and teases potential comeback offers in the TV world. Hot on her heels, however, is former colleague Matt Lauer. Recent whispers from sources suggest that Lauer, at 67, has been trying to reconnect with Kotb, hoping that she’d toss him a life raft amidst the turbulent waters of his career. It appears Hoda, now 60, is just too busy dancing in the limelight to notice Lauer’s paltry attempts to regain his standing, which has left him fuming, insiders say. “Hoda’s basking in her newfound success, while Matt watches from the sidelines with a hint of jealousy,” says the source. Though the worlds of these two ex-Today show hosts are drastically different now, the gap keeps widening, and Lauer certainly isn’t winning.
Hoda’s Wellness Journey Contrasts Matt’s Stagnation
In January, Hoda left the Today show, shifting her focus to health and family while remaining a devoted mother to her two daughters, Haley and Hope. She’s been open about her family’s struggles, particularly with Hope’s type 1 diabetes diagnosis, which she candidly shared with Savannah Guthrie and Craig Melvin. On May 21, she launched her wellness app, Joy 101, boasting features like live events and a subscription newsletter that she describes as “a retreat in your pocket.” Insiders say Matt is genuinely glad for Hoda’s success, though, deep down, he’s grappling with his own struggles – it’s hard not to feel envious watching someone else thrive while you’re on a constant quest for redemption that just doesn’t seem to come. “He misses those glory days in front of the cameras”, the insider mentions, lamenting Lauer’s rather bland day-to-day life post-TV.
Matt’s Attempts at Comeback Leave Much to Be Desired
Meanwhile, the ghost of Lauer’s past continues to haunt him. The former Today show staple was effectively ousted in 2017 following allegations of inappropriate conduct. While he has flat-out denied those claims, the aftermath involved losing both his job and his wife of two decades, Annette Roque. These days, Lauer seems to be finding solace on golf courses in the Hamptons or engaging in retail therapy with his girlfriend, PR executive Shamin Abas. A source reflects, “It’s not a terrible life, but there’s a prevailing sense of monotony. Lauer once thought Hoda would lend a hand once she left; however, that friendship clearly isn’t where he expected it would be.” After all, staying relevant in the media is rough terrain, especially when you’re seen as the fallen star left to reminisce about better times.
In short, while Hoda Kotb is launching into a vibrant new chapter, Matt Lauer is struggling to regain his former glory. Clearly, the paths of these two former Today show colleagues diverged sharply, with Hoda flourishing and Lauer floundering without guidance. As Lauer seeks to revitalize his career, hints of jealousy surface as he watches others shine, including Kotb who is seemingly unfazed by the tug of yesteryear’s connections.
