Strange Things About Mika Brzezinski And Joe Scarborough's Relationship
MSNBC's Morning Joe co-hosts Mika Brzezinski and Joe Scarborough have one of the most electric relationships on daytime television. After Brzezinski signed on to the political talk show in 2007, many viewers couldn't help but take note of their charged on-air banter and easy camaraderie. The only problem? Brzezinski and Scarborough were both married when they first met, leading to lots of speculation about their working relationship throughout the years.
When the two finally called it quits on their marriages (Brzezinski in 2016 and Scarborough in 2013), many assumed they'd confirm their relationship publicly, but in a curious twist, the television stars continued to dance around their status, preferring to play coy with journalists. This insistence on mystery was arguably unnecessary and strange, especially since the pair's relationship was essentially an open secret by then.
Scarborough and Brzezinski eventually confirmed their romance with a surprise engagement in May 2017, spilling the beans to Vanity Fair in their first interview as an official couple. They tied the knot in a secret ceremony on Nov. 24, 2018 at the National Archives in Washington, D.C. Now that Scarborough and Brzezinski are married, it's fair for some fans to wonder about the particulars of their relationship. Why did they wait so long to confirm their romance? Does Scarborough really respect Brzezinski professionally? We'll answer those questions and more as we examine the strange things about Mika Brzezinski and Joe Scarborough's relationship.
An 'alarming' love?
It's reasonable that some viewers want to know when Scarborough and Brzezinski fell in love. Although the couple won't pin down an exact date, Brzezinski told the Intelligencer, "There was a moment, and it was alarming. Complicated and alarming." Eek. It's kind of bizarre to refer to your love life as alarming, no?
Of course, it's possible Brzezinski's aha moment was uncomfortable due to her marital status. During the aforementioned interview, she noted, "This is really way more than I want to say. I've got people I care about who will read this and — but, yeah. There definitely was a moment where I realized. And it was hard." The good news? Brzezinski and Scarborough appear to have moved on from there complicated past. All's well that ends well, as the saying goes.
When did they actually start dating?
There is a lot of speculation about when Brzezinski and Scarborough actually started dating. Making matters even more complicated? It's unclear exactly when Brzezinski and Jim Hoffer — a married couple for 23 years — divorced. Although the split went down in 2016, Brzezinski's statement about the breakup didn't pin down a specific date. "Mika's divorce was finalized in the past year. She's really grateful that it was done amicably and in private," an MSNBC rep said in a June 2016 statement to Page Six. "This has, of course, been a painful time for her family. So right now she is focused on her two teenage daughters, and on continuing to heal."
After Brzezinski announced the divorce, the rumor will went wild over an alleged something with Scarborough. In September 2016, GQ reported that "even on the set of their own show, it's widely assumed that they are a couple. They are frequently spotted outside 30 Rock, traveling together on Nantucket and in Charleston, or sitting at tables for two over cozy dinners in Manhattan. Last December, when Scarborough hosted a Christmas party for friends and colleagues at his home in New Canaan, it was Brzezinski who welcomed guests at the door." A supposed joint Christmas party in December 2015? Hmm... That timing is a little odd.
The pair played coy for too long
Given the long-held suspicions about their relationship, it's bizarre Scarborough and Brzezinski didn't let the cat out of the bag sooner. Instead, they sometimes seemed to fuel the rumors. Take Scarborough and Brzezinski's interview with GQ in September 2016. When the interviewer asked if they were an item, Brzezinski replied: "I really don't want to talk about my personal life. I mean, I think you can understand that." Scarborough then added, "And, as always, I defer to Mika."
Scarborough teased their romance again in an April 2017 interview with The Hollywood Reporter, quipping, "We have a crackling on-air chemistry, and a crackling off-air chemistry, too." But when the interviewer asked Scarborough to clarify, Brzezinski interjected with, "That's good." Scarborough then added: "I think that pretty much says it, doesn't it?" Sheesh. It probably would have been less stressful for everyone if these two just released a statement from the get-go.
What staffers really think about their romance
If you're dating a coworker, chances are you go out of your way to keep things professional. This reportedly isn't the case for Brzezinski and Scarborough, who supposedly put their relationship ahead of their work commitments.
Sources connected to Morning Joe took to Page Six in July 2017 to complain about the couple's frequent vacations, an ongoing headache for the show's production team. "Joe and Mika are away together again," the insider claimed. "Morning Joe is being produced as if they're in two different locations. They are not! They are together — they are always together." In one supposed instance, staffers were allegedly tasked with creating two separate sets while the couple vacationed in London together, even though they were "yards" apart from one another. "It's very difficult working on a show where the two stars are in a relationship," the source said about the situation. If those rumors are true, this seems like a weird way for professionals to behave.
Scarborough's rude on-air behavior
Speaking of professionalism, there's reason to believe Scarborough doesn't respect Brzezinski as a coworker. Want some proof? Look no further than a February 2018 episode of Morning Joe that made headlines for Scarborough's seemingly rude behavior toward his beau. It all went down after Scarborough cut Brzezinski off as she tried to give her take on fake news and misinformation campaigns, something which irked their guest panelist, historian Rick Perlstein. "Joe, I think Mika was trying to say something there," Perlstein said.
"Rick, I am curious, did your earpiece go out?" Joe sarcastically snapped at Perlstein. "Did you not hear her say that before? I knew she was trying to say something and she said it and then I followed up." Yikes. To the panelist's obvious discomfort, Scarborough continued to joke about his "malfunctioning" earpiece. Not only is it uncomfortable that Scarborough cut off Brzezinski to begin with, but it's also odd that he lost his cool when Perlstein defended her. Perhaps there's more to the story here, but Scarborough should consider giving Brzezinski more air time because she's an accomplished journalist who can hold her own.
He called her 'snotty' and 'rude' on TV
Imagine what you'd do if your partner called you snotty and rude on television. That's the exact predicament Brzezinski found herself in April 2017, when Scarborough got upset that she questioned his take on Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner having positions of power in the White House. Scarborough said he was fine with the situation, given that his "political hero," Bobby Kennedy, was appointed Attorney General by his older brother, President John F. Kennedy, in 1961. Brzezinski didn't like that comparison, jumping in with: "So you're comparing Ivanka Trump to Bobby Kennedy?"
"You don't have to be so snotty..." Scarborough shot back. "You don't have to be so rude.The fact of the matter is that they are not Bobby Kennedy — as I was about to say — but you wanted to get your cheap shot in so you got your cheap shot in. No I am not saying Jared and Ivanka are Bobby Kennedy." Woah. What an unfortunate way to treat your partner on-air, right?
Scarborough later tweeted an apology of sorts: "Me: I'm sorry. Mika [Pulling a tooth out of her fist]: Don't sweat it."
Their on-air banter is a little ... awkward
When Brzezinski and Scarborough aren't fighting on-air, they're flirting up a storm. Case in point: During a February 2018 episode, Scarborough made uncomfortable jokes about the pair's relationship while holding Brzezinski's arm. "We just crossed a line," Scarborough said to Brzezinski. "We haven't really done that since we've been engaged. Everyone has seen your grandparents kissing and we understand that we're old people. Nobody wants to see that."
When Brzezinski flirtatiously protested Scarborough's advances, he continued to tease. Uh, is this discourse appropriate for a political morning show? We're not so sure, but if you ask some fans, the answer is no. "Get a freakin' room," one viewer tweeted. Another said: "Think I'm going to hurl now."
Their odd pre-engagement living situation
These days, it's pretty common for couples to live together before getting engaged, but Scarborough and Brzezinski did nothing of the sort, and the reasons might surprise you. The situation supposedly boiled down to their gaggle of pets and their busy schedules. "The couple says they are right now doing a lot of racing around, wondering how to blend their households, where they will find space for their combined three dogs, three cats, two rabbits, and chickens," reported Vanity Fair. (Isn't that what assistants are for?)
Strange excuses aside, the pair's relationship appears to be on solid ground no matter where these two reside. "I'm not sure where we begin and the other ends. We're just really connected," Brzezinski told the Intelligencer. Aww.
President Donald Trump offered to do what?
Scarborough and Brzezinski's relationship became even more unique when, in January 2017, President Donald Trump offered to marry the couple. Even stranger? Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, offered to do the deed first. You can't make this stuff up, people.
The weirdness went down during Scarborough and Brzezinski's visit to the White House to speak with Trump about his presidency, but the commander in chief had another topic in mind — Scarborough and Brzezinski's wedding plans. Trump suggested the two get hitched at the White House or his famous hotel, Mar-A-Lago. "That's when Jared [Kushner] interrupted and said, 'Hey, you know what? I've got my license. I could marry you,'" Scarborough told Vanity Fair. Trump, supposedly irritated by this suggestion, shot back: "Why would you marry them? They could have the President of the United States marry them."
Considering the poor state of Trump's relationship with the couple these days, we're relieved this fantasy never materialized.
The location of their wedding was out of the ordinary
Where you choose to get married can say a lot about your relationship, which is why we're a bit surprised Scarborough and Brzezinski decided to wed at the National Archives in Washington, D.C. That's right, the couple traded vows — which they've waited years to say — on Nov. 24, 2018 in front of the Constitution, the Declaration of Independence, and the Bill of Rights. "It makes sense now more than ever, given what we stand for as a couple, what we do for a living, and what we're worried about as a country," Brzezinski told Vanity Fair. Scarborough admitted that he didn't have much choice in the matter: "I was really Mika's wedding planner. I did what she told me to do."
Although we understand the reasoning behind the venue (The two are both political heavyweights, after all), it seems a little too on the nose. However, it wasn't our wedding, and these two are clearly continuing to make the decisions that work best for them — even if those choices buck tradition and stir up the rumor mill. We send our well-wishes to the happy couple and wish them a long and prosperous union.