Hoda Kotb Addresses Kelly Rowland Dressing Room Controversy on 'Today'
Hoda Kotb, Kelly Rowland
Hoda Kotb has no hard feelings towards Kelly Rowland, even after she reportedly walked off the Today set and abandoned her co-hosting duties shortly before she was set to be on air.
During the Tuesday, Feb. 20, morning broadcast, Kotb seemingly defended the 43-year-old entertainer and even expressed a desire of wanting to invite her back on the show.
"I just want to say this," Kotb, 59, began. "I have great love and admiration for Kelly Rowland. I adore her. And I want her to come back on our show and I want her to host again."
Co-host Jenna Bush Hager then chimed in, agreeing, "She is welcome anytime."
"Of course she is," Kotb added, jokingly adding, "She can share my dressing room. We'll be in it together!"
As for why the Destiny's Child alum decided to depart so last minute, the exact reason remains to be confirmed by Rowland or a member of her team, though an insider alleged at the time that the “Motivation” singer was unhappy with the dressing room available to her at Today, where she was due to sub in for Hager on Today with Hoda & Jenna at the end of last week.
Instead, singer Rita Ora was asked to fill in as Kotb’s co-host on very short notice, telling her Instagram followers that she had “two minutes to prepare” for her on-screen duties.
Since the fiasco, Rowland has become a target for critics–including Real Housewives of New York alum Bethenny Frankel, who after describing the Today dressing rooms as being "the size of a closet," dissed Rowland for having "diva expectations."
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