Jenna Bush Hager spiced up her reading experience, but now regrets taking it too far
Jenna Bush Hager addresses her controversial remark on the 'Today' show, apologizing for joking about having an affair with a charming reader
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Jenna Bush Hager walked back a joke she made about having an affair — and admits she went “too far.”
On the October 9th episode of Today With Hoda & Jenna, Bush Hager (41) and Hoda Kotb (59) engaged in a discussion about an article called "The Thirstiest Thing a Man Can Do Is Read." Both the co-anchors agreed with the viewpoint presented in the article. Bush Hager, who is married to Henry Hager and has three children, even humorously stated that she becomes "dehydrated" whenever she witnesses a man reading a book.
Kotb agreed with a remark about the heat and then asked her coanchor for her thoughts on seeing a man reading on a park bench in Central Park. Bush Hager jokingly responded by saying that if the man had little eyeglasses and was reading something she respected, it could potentially lead to an affair. However, she quickly clarified that she was just kidding and would never do something like that because she is happily committed to her partner, Henry, who also enjoys reading.
Kotb, for her part, questioned Bush Hager’s defensiveness.
“Because I shouldn’t have said that!” Bush Hager replied. “I went too far.”
Bush Hager and her spouse crossed paths in 2004 during his involvement in a re-election campaign for her father, ex-President George W. Bush. They sealed their union in May 2008, following an unsuccessful initial proposal marred by a "manipulative" ultimatum from her.
Jenna Bush Hager and her husband Henry Hager spoke about their relationship on Today With Hoda & Jenna in February. Jenna revealed that as they were dating, she dramatically told Henry that she would only stay in Washington D.C. if they got engaged. She described it as a manipulative ultimatum and mentioned the attractive men in Latin America as an alternative.
The couple had their first child, Mila, in April 2013. They later welcomed another daughter named Poppy Louise in August 2015, followed by their son Hal in August 2019. However, when it comes to the couple's plans for expanding their family in the future, they appear to have conflicting views.
"I feel like it's about time for me to have another baby," Bush Hager revealed during an interview on Today With Hoda & Jenna in August. "I have a desire to expand our family."
However, she clarified, "Henry strongly opposes the idea. He believes we already have three healthy children."
