Today host Hoda Kotb reveals how she would reject potential romantic suitors - as she slams ghosting as the 'cowardly way out'

Hoda Kotb has revealed how she once 'kindly' let a man down via text message because she didn't feel a 'romantic connection' after going on a date with him.

The 59-year-old, who recently opened up about her 'red flags', was discussing a new dating trend called 'Bless and Release,' which involves texting someone and wishing them the best whilst subtly confirming you won't be going on another date.

Speaking to her cohost, Jenna Bush Hager, Hoda said: 'Ghosting is sort of like the kind of cowardly way out. You can't say something, so you just, like, let it go. They'll forget. It will be over,' to which Jenna, 42, replied: 'Yeah that hurts.'

Hoda continued: 'Here's the thing, if you got a text saying, "Hey Jenna, I'm not feeling a romantic connection," you'd be like, that's an ouch that is beyond,' as Jenna agreed and said: 'I know, I don't feel like that's a bless, I feel like that's a punch!'

Hoda Kotb has revealed how she once 'kindly' let a man down via text message because she didn't feel a 'romantic connection'

Hoda was discussing a new dating trend called Bless and Release with her cohost, Jenna Bush Hager, on Friday's Today

The two hosts shared their thoughts on what you should text someone in order to let them down gently

Hoda, 59, was previously engaged to financier Joel Schiffman, but they split in 2022

Her cohost then demonstrated how she would phrase a potential text: 'I think it should be something like, "look Jenna... my plate's really crowded at this point in my life and I wish you the best."

'Because it wouldn't be crowded if you had a romantic connection, but you don't, but you don't need to say that,' she added as Jenna responded: 'I totally agree, soften... the word "and" is helpful.'

Joking about what she would really want to say, Hoda blurted out: 'You give me no vibe AND I wish you best!' as Jenna added: 'I am completely turned off by you AND good luck out there!'

'We've never blessed or released anybody because it wasn't around,' Jenna then said, before backtracking and asking Hoda: 'Have you ever blessed?'

Hoda revealed: 'I think so, I think so. I've said something kindly like, "you know what the timing isn't right for me in this moment."

'However, if we did have a connection - I was thinking - it would be the right time, but it just isn't the right time to fill,' she added as Jenna claimed: 'Nobody has enough time to just fill it with somebody that they're not in to.'

Their comments come after Jenna seemingly confirmed that Hoda was currently single during an episode of their show earlier this month.

It came about as Jenna attempted to clear up some confusion about the identity of a man who had been mistaken for one of Hoda's potential love interests, revealing that he was actually her driver, not her boyfriend. 

Mother-of-two Hoda claimed that 'ghosting is a cowardly way out' when dating

Back in March, Hoda revealed that she had been on her first date in the two years since she had split from Joel

Hoda recently had to clear up some confusion about her driver Eddie being her romantic partner

The TV presenter is currently single and confirmed that she had recently started dating again

The confusion arose after Hoda mentioned the man, Eddie, during a conversation about basketball, leading some fans to assume she was referring to a romantic partner.

'Wait, and we should just say... Eddie drives you... people thought he was your boyfriend for a minute,' Jenna, 42, said as Hoda giggled and replied: 'No, no!'

Jenna continued: 'No, they did! And I saw him yesterday and I was like, "What's up Eddie?" and he was like, "Can you believe it?"

'Eddie, you love him?' Jenna added as Hoda responded: 'I love Eddie dearly, I've worked with him for many years and I call him my Eddie,' as Jenna stressed: 'He's your Eddie, but that doesn't mean he is your romantic Eddie.'

Appearing to confirm that Hoda is still single, Jenna then added: 'Any of y'all that thought she had found the one, she's still looking,' as Hoda giggled nervously.

Last month, Hoda revealed that she had been on her first date in two years since splitting from her former fiancé, financier Joel Schiffman, but stressed that she doesn't use dating apps because she wants to avoid 'weirdos.'