The team at the “Today” show is siding with Kelly Rowland after some dressing room drama reportedly prompted the Destiny’s Child alum to walk off the set just before she was scheduled to guest host last week.
Addressing the Feb. 15 incident, co-hosts Savannah Guthrie, Hoda Kotb and Jenna Bush Hager all contend the show’s dressing rooms aren’t up to snuff.
“What can I say? Yes, our dressing rooms need a little TLC,” Guthrie told People on Wednesday at the New York City launch party for her collection of essays, “Mostly What God Does.”
While Guthrie noted the “historic studio has been around for 70-plus years” at 30 Rockefeller Plaza and is therefore “not that easy to renovate,” she admitted that she “totally get[s]” Rowland’s decision.
“I hope for what we lack in green room decor, we make up for in the warmth and gratitude we have for the guests who come on because it means a lot to us,” she said.
Meanwhile, Guthrie’s co-hosts Kotb and Bush Hager — both of whom were in attendance at the party — reiterated remarks made earlier this week that they hope Rowland will soon return to the NBC staple.
“I’ve been texting back and forth with Kelly and having a couple of phone calls,” Kotb told People. “I love her. I think she’s one of the gentlest, kindest people that we’ve met. … Whatever the snafu was with the dressing room, we want to delete, delete, delete. And then, we want her to come back.”
“She’s invited whenever,” added Bush Hager. “And our dressing rooms do need work.”
The co-anchors first addressed the ordeal on Tuesday’s episode of “Today,” with Kotb noting her “great love and admiration for Kelly Rowland.”
“I adore her. And I want her to come back on our show,” she said.
“She’s welcome anytime,” Bush Hager agreed.
“She can share my dressing room. We’ll be in it together,” joked Kotb. “But anyway … I just want to say that we love her. We’ve loved her on this show for many, many years.”
Rowland had been on hand to co-host the 8 a.m. hour last Thursday as a fill-in for Bush Hager. She had reportedly requested a dressing room upstairs, which was already being used by guest Jennifer Lopez. Rowland allegedly became unhappy with the green room she was offered and opted to leave the set of the morning show.
Singer and actress Rita Ora, who was already on set as another guest, was tapped to fill in last minute.
