TODAY show host Savannah Guthrie “wants to control” Hoda Kotb based on their awkward tension during a live segment last week, an expert believes.
Body language pro Patti Wood has analyzed the hosts’ on-screen relationship as insiders claim they’re feuding behind the scenes.
A body language expert has revealed her opinion on an awkward moment between Today hosts Savannah Guthrie and Hoda Kotb
Expert Patti Wood said she believes Savannah ‘wants to control’ Hoda based on their strange interaction during the live show
Savannah and Hoda teamed up for an uncomfortable cooking segment on Friday that Wood said revealed a lot about their dynamic.
“In the short segment, Savannah shows that she feels she is the grown-up, the parent, and in charge and thinks the laughing playful Hoda is not paying attention to the rules,” Wood exclusively told the Sun.
The scene involved cookbook author Elizabeth Heiskell who walked Savannah and Hoda through a salad recipe.
While the female hosts attempted to help in the kitchen, both Al Roker and Craig Melvin sat at a table along with three Yankees players Gerrit Cole, Jose Trevino, and Anthony Rizzo.
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The players were on a previous segment to talk about Yankees HOPE Week, and were invited to try some of the food on-camera.
But fans noticed the segment spiraled quickly and turned awkward.
As the chef was speaking and Savannah was mixing a salad, Hoda walked over to the table and asked: “Wait – are we done?”
Savannah replied: “Yea that’s it. Moving on. We’ll just move on, we don’t have time for all that,” as she dismissively waved her hand in front of Hoda and cut off the guest from speaking.
Viewers could hear Hoda nervously laughing in the background and grabbing a bowl for a taste as a close-up of the camera showed Savannah continuing to mix the salad.
An awkward pause ensued before the guest started talking again about farmer’s market produce.
Analyzing this strange moment, Wood told the Sun: “What is noticeable in the screen grab for the video is that Hoda is in the background reaching under Savannah to taste.
“Savannah is looking directly at the Chef and speaker to the Chef while reaching out with her palm making a patting down motion in front of her to stop her, and flicking her fingers toward the check to move her along.
“We see Hoda ignore the command, but put her head down, showing she is doing something ‘Bad’ and tasting it anyway as she gives a stuttered, slightly tense, but still playful laugh.”
Wood said this may indicate that Savannah acts more like “the parent” who “thinks the laughing playful Hoda is not paying attention to the rules.”
“Savannah is more of a Corrector on the DISC personality assessment and wants to get things right,” Wood said.
The Today Show has not responded to The Celeb Report’s request for comment.
FEUDING FRIENDS
This comes as Hoda has snubbed co-host Savannah during a recent live performance amid rumors that the pair are feuding off-camera.
During the first hour of the NBC show, the ladies welcomed Lizzo as the musical guest who performed on the outdoor stage as part of the Citi Summer Concert Series.
At one point, Hoda, 57, excitedly grabbed Lizzo’s hand and guided her into the packed crowd to greet her fans.
While the children’s book author had her moment with Lizzo, viewers noticed she didn’t wait for her co-host, Savannah, to join them.
Savannah, 50, followed them down the stairs with their co-anchors, Craig Melvin and Dylan Dreyer, though Hoda seemed to hurry Lizzo along, leaving them behind.
The snub comes amid reports that the pair are not the close friends that they appear to be on-screen.
A source close to production on the Today Show exclusively told The Celeb Report that despite their sunny dispositions towards each other on TV, behind the scenes, Savannah and Hoda secretly “can’t stand each other.”
“Savannah is the boss. After Matt Lauer was ousted, Savannah grabbed power, and she really wanted Willy Geist in Hoda’s role, but his ratings were just not up to par for the network.”
“Hoda out maneuvered Savannah and got the spot,” the insider said.
Beyond that, the source added that Savannah “thinks of herself as a real news person,” while Hoda is seen as “the lightweight that drank wine with Kathy Lee Gifford.”
This awkward on-screen moment after a source told the Sun the pair are not as close as they seem
The source said that Savannah sees herself as ‘a real news person’ while Hoda is seen as ‘the lightweight that drank wine with Kathy Lee Gifford’
