Chris Hardwickmade an emotional return to the small screen on Sunday night.
Yvette Nicole Brown was originally slated to replace him as host, but the networkreinstated Hardwickafter completing an internal investigation into the allegations.
Hardwick teared up while opening the episode, saying, “I really just want to take a minute and I want to say that I’m so appreciative to be standing here right now,” according toEntertainment Weekly.
“And I want to thank you,TheWalking Deadcommunity, for all your support over these past couple months,” he said. “This show is not just a job to me, this is a vital part of my life, this has been a sanctuary these last seven years we’ve been here.”
AMC
“This has been with me through good times and bad times, and I have so much gratitude to you the fans, the producers, and the casts of these amazing shows for allowing me to be a part of this community every week,” he continued. “This is what this is, a community, and we’re on the precipice of a lot of changes on bothWalking Deadshows in the coming weeks and months, and I am so looking forward to going on that journey with you. And I’ve said the following words a million times, countless times, [and] I’ve never been more thankful than I am in this moment to say to you: I am Chris Hardwick and this isTalking Dead.”
In June, Dykstra, 29, wrote about her painful experience with sexual assault at the hands of a former boyfriend in an emotional first-person essay titled “Rose-Colored Glasses: A Confession.”Though she didn’t name Hardwick as the subject, certain key details led many fans on Twitter to believe that she was referring to him. (They dated for three years beforeannouncing their splitin July 2014.)
Michael Buckner/Getty Images for GQ
Hours after Dykstra’s claims went public, Hardwickissued a statementdenying that he ever sexually assaulted her.
“I was heartbroken to read Chloe’s post,” he said. “Our three-year relationship was not perfect — we were ultimately not a good match and argues — even shouted at each other — but I loved her and did my best to uplift and support her as a partner and companion in any way and at no time did I sexually assault her.”
Hardwick’s wifeLydia Hearstand two former girlfriends,Andrea SavageandJacinda Barrett, have all defended him against the allegations.
In late July, AMC announced Hardwick’s return.
source: people.com
