Today‘s Hoda Kotb and Jenna Bush Hager got called out for comments they recently made about the “anti-sex” cardboard beds athletes will be using at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
E! News host Justin Sylvester, who is a regular correspondent on the show, surprised the Today hosts during the broadcast with one of the cardboard beds so that they could try it out for themselves. The bed, which was made by the company Airweave, is reportedly being used to promote sustainability and reduce the Olympics’ environmental impact, not to deter athletes from having sex, as Kotb and Bush Hager previously insinuated on the broadcast.
“Y’all started a rumor on this show, and part of my job is to give you the scoop and to debunk rumors as well,” Sylvester said before airing a clip of Kotb and Bush Hager debating whether the cardboard beds can take “the motion” of these “extracurricular activities.”
The Today co-hosts looked quite embarrassed as they watched the clip back. But they appeared even more shocked when they noticed the bed.
“What is happening? Is this real?” Bush Hager asked as they walked over to try the bed out. She and Kotb sat down on the twin-sized bed together, and appeared pleasantly surprised by how durable it was. “No, by the way, it is sturdy as can be. We didn’t start a rumor! We told the truth!” Bush Hager added.
As Kotb and Bush Hager laid down side-by-side, Sylvester explained that the beds will be “customized to each athlete” at the 2024 Olympic games.
The Today co-hosts made sure to be thorough in testing the cardboard bed as Sylvester continued his commentary. “So, any olympian out there who’s finding themselves having a little bit of free time, this bed can support it,” he cracked.
The ultimate test of strength came from stage left, however. Terry Crews, who was set to appear later on the broadcast to promote the new season of America’s Got Talent, ran to join Kotb and Bush Hager — and the bed appeared to hold all three of the stars just fine. “If it can hold Terry Crews, it can hold all of us!” Kotb said.
They certainly changed their tune. When they thought that the sustainable beds were meant to deter these “extracurricular activities,” Kotb and Bush Hager defended the athletes’ rights to a little romance on the May 15 episode of Today.
“If you worked really really hard for this, I mean you’re going to perform [for] 30 seconds, one minute, two minutes,” Kotb began saying. But her choice of words caused her co-host to guffaw with laughter, forcing Kotb to clarify, “I mean as an athlete! I mean in a sporting event!”
By the end of their conversation, Bush Hager was over discussing the morality of having sex at the Olympic games. “I think you’re young, and you’re in love, and you got a cardboard bed and you’re in Paris, you do you! You perform in whichever way you like to perform!” she declared.
Today with Hoda & Jenna airs on weekdays at 10/9c on NBC.