NBC’s Hoda Kotb gets choked up during coronavirus coverage

NBC’s Hoda Kotb got emotional during a Friday morning segment of the “Today” show when discussing acts of generosity during the coronavirus pandemic.

“I also think a lot of of things are contagious, including generosity,” she told New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees at the end of a segment about his $5 million donation to help feed Louisiana families. Kotb also worked as a reporter for a local New Orleans news station in the 1990s.

Cutting away from the interview to the show break, Kotb struggled to speak and turned away from the camera, saying “sorry.”

Her co-anchor Savannah Guthrie urged Kotb to “take a moment” and jumped in to “read the tease” exiting the segment for her.

We love you, Hoda. ❤️ pic.twitter.com/rocZr8J4EE

— TODAY (@TODAYshow) March 27, 2020

Fellow journalists weighed in on Twitter with empathy for Kotb, with The Intercept’s Glenn Greenwald noting that “paying attention constantly to the Covid-19 pandemic – whether because required by one’s job or out of choice – has real mental health effects for any healthy person.”

Paying attention constantly to the Covid-19 pandemic – whether because required by one’s job or out of choice – has real mental health effects for any healthy person.

Health care professionals have it the worst by far, but it’s important to be cognizant of this & try to balance: https://t.co/iWmIZOMewR

— Glenn Greenwald (@ggreenwald) March 27, 2020

Human first. Journalist second.

We are all with you, Hoda. https://t.co/U79Mhis4Pu

— Christine Stanwood (@KOCOChristine) March 27, 2020

We’re all going through a lot now and it’s good to not pretend otherwise https://t.co/jNzWUWcmHz

— Benjy Sarlin (@BenjySarlin) March 27, 2020