Hoda Kotb and Joel Schiffman are Star Wars fans!
The Today show co-host and her boyfriend took in a private screening of Star Wars: The Force Awakens Tuesday night at the Loews 68th Street theather in New York City. Hoda’s colleagues Savannah Guthrie, Willie Geist, Al Roker and Natalie Morales also attended the film’s screening.
“The screening was at 8 pm and they arrived shortly before it started,” an insider tells E! News. “Hoda was chatting with Savannah and Natalie at first, but as the lights started to dim she took her seat next to Joel and he immediately put his hand on her knee.”
While a hand on the knee is certainly adorable, the eyewitness adds that wasn’t all they did! “They were cuddly and seemed very much in love,” the source adds.
“After the screening, which they both seemed to enjoy judging by the smiles on their faces, they walked out of the theater holding hands.”
Star Wars: The Force Awakens premieres
Too cute! Other celebrities in attendance included Jeffrey Tambor and Lance Bass
Hoda has been dating Joel for more than two years, but before she confirmed his identity she simply referred to him as “Boots” because of a picture of his shoes he shared on her morning show. “You know I have to say it feels…I feel like some relief because you know when you feel like you’re keeping a secret,” she said on the air shortly after his name was revealed. “I talked to him this morning and I was like, ‘Who cares?’ He said, ‘Who cares?'”
Since then she has gushed about him openly a time or two but mostly keeps their relationship private.
NEWS: Hoda Kotb’s big boyfriend reveal
When E! News caught up with Hoda and her fourth hour co-host, Kathie Lee Gifford, they addressed the idea of marriage for Hoda and Joel. “You stay out of other people’s love lives and if she’s happy and he’s happy,” Kathie Lee said, as Hoda stood next to her.
She did manage to sneak in one little jest, “It is about time!” But she was only kidding.
“She’s a smart woman,” Kathie Lee said of her BFF. “She knows her own heart. She’ll navigate those waters very beautifully.”
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