Mika Brzezinski rebuffs Joe Scarborough's hand-holding attempt: 'Don't do that. Not on the air!' | TheHill

MSNBC's Mika Brzezinski rebuffed an attempt by co-host and fiancé Joe Scarborough to hold her hand during Thursday's edition of "Morning Joe," telling him "not on the air."

"We did lots of fighting over issues, so it should be a good show today," Brzezinski, who became engaged to Scarborough in 2017 following long speculation the two were a couple, said to kick off the program.

"No, we didn’t," Scarborough responded.

"Yeah, we did," Brzezinski said as Scarborough reached for her hand.

"Don’t do that. Not on the air. We're on the air. What are you doing?" Brzezinski playfully scolded.

"Can I ask you a question?" Scarborough asked, turning to Willie Geist. "We’ve been engaged for like 13 years. You think I should be able to hold her hand at this point in the engagement?" 

"With her consent," Geist replied.

"If you be quiet, I’ll hold your hand ... so I can do the news," Brzezinski negotiated.

"The show is off to an interesting start," joked panelist Sam Stein.

Scarborough, a former GOP congressman who became an independent last year primarily due to President Trump Donald John TrumpCNN analyst Kirsten Powers: Melania's jacket should read 'Let them eat cake' CNN's Cuomo confronts Lewandowski over 'womp womp' remark Sessions says FBI agent Peter Strzok no longer has his security clearance MORE , proposed at a hotel in Antibes, France, during a trip to celebrate Brzezinski’s birthday in May 2017. The duo has hosted the MSNBC morning program since its launch in 2008.

"Saturday Night Live" once spoofed the couple's on-air affection in a skit that included flirtatious exchanges such as "This tea kettle’s about to blow, baby."

A wedding date has not been announced.