Chris Hardwick Gets Emotional Speaking About Sexual Abuse Allegations

Chris Hardwick returned to host AMC’s Talking Dead for the first time since allegations of sexual and emotional abuse were brought upon him by girlfriend Chloe Dykstra. After completing an internal investigation, the network decided to reinstate him on the show.

“I really just want to take a minute and I want to say that I’m so appreciative to be standing here right now,” he said according to Entertainment Weekly. “And I want to thank you, The Walking Dead community, for all your support over these past couple months. 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.”

“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 both Walking Dead shows 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 is Talking Dead.”