The Real Reason Another Today Host Just Quit Months After Hoda Kotb’s Sudden Exit: ‘The Time Has Come… ‘
After more than a decade on the show, Today contributor Donna Farizon announced her departure from the morning show. The 31-year-old producer will be moving on to pursue professional opportunities and said her farewell on the show on Sept 9.
“A year ago, I launched a series called ‘Own Your Power’ where I challenged myself to speak my truth,” Farizan told veteran Today hosts Jenna Bush Hager and Savannah Guthrie. “And now, after 12 years with Today, I’m challenging myself to spread my wings beyond the show to see what new and exciting await me professionally.”
Farizan also wrote a letter about being grateful for her time on the show and what she’s looking forward to next. “The world of TV and content can sometimes feel overwhelming because there is no roadmap,” she penned But I am so grateful to have gone to the School of Kathie Lee Gifford, the School of Hoda Kotb, and the School of Jenna Bush Hager, because now it’s time for me, Donna Farizan, to create my own map.”
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She started at Today as an intern in college and stuck with them eversince. “TODAY has been my home away from home because of the friendships I’ve made, the memories I’ll take, and the enthusiasm I’ve received from the constant of this show — the remarkable viewers who tune in everyday and motivate all of us to own our power. The biggest joy of this chapter in my life has been the viewers I’ve met — or have yet to meet — along the way.”
“The time has come to start my next chapter. The unknown can be scary, but it’s also exhilarating, so let’s embrace it,” she wrote. “Since I started college and had my heart set on television internships, I didn’t know where the road would lead, but I knew to follow my curiosity and spark. I created a path that taught me lessons that expanded my growth as a human being.”
“We love you. Our whole staff has joined because you are part of our family,” Bush Hager said on the show while the crew joined on the stage on air. “You will always be part of our family. As you said, this is your home. You are welcome back whenever, but we cannot wait to see what the future has in store for you.”
The departure comes 9 months after Hoda Kotb left Today. The longtime host announced her departure in September 2024. “As I write this, my heart is all over the map,” the journalist wrote in a letter to staff of the NBC morning show. “I know I’m making the right decision, but it’s a painful one. And you all are the reason why. They say two things can be right at the same time, and I’m feeling that so deeply right now. I love you and it’s time for me to leave the show.”
