Chris Hardwick Returns to Talking Dead: 'I've Never Been More Thankful Than I Am In This Moment'
Paul Dailly
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Chris Hardwick returned to Talking Dead on Sunday following the return of Fear the Walking Dead.
The host of the popular talk show marked his first stint since returning to working following allegations of sexual assault by explaining to viewers how happy he was to return while fighting back the tears.
“Normally, I recap the show we’re about to talk about here, but instead, I really just want to take a minute and say I’m so appreciative to be standing here right now,” he began at the top of the show.
“And I want to thank you, The Walking Dead community, for all of your support these last couple of months. “This show is not just a job to me,” he continued.
Related: Chris Hardwick Cleared to return to Work at AMC!
“This is a vital part of my life, and 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, and the producers and the amazing casts of both of these shows for allowing me to come here and be a part of this community every week."
"This is what this is. This is a community. 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 yet I have never been more thankful than I am in this very moment to say to you that I am Chris Hardwick and this is Talking Dead.”
Related: Yvette Nicole Brown to Replace Chris Hardwick at Comic-Con Panel
Later in the telecast, Hardwick addressed, Yvette Nicole Brown, his temporary replacement for The Walking Dead-themed AMC content and the Comic-Con panel for the show in San Diego.
The assault allegations were lodged by Hardwick's former girlfriend, Chloe Dykstra. AMC conducted an investigation into the claims and released the following statement on July 25:
"Following a comprehensive assessment by AMC, working with Ivy Kagan Bierman of the firm Loeb & Loeb, who has considerable experience in this area, Chris Hardwick will return to AMC as the host of Talking Dead and Talking with Chris Hardwick."
"We take these matters very seriously and given the information available to us after a very careful review, including interviews with numerous individuals, we believe returning Chris to work is the appropriate step."
Talking Dead continues Sundays at 10/9c following Fear the Walking Dead.
Paul Dailly was an Associate Editor for TV Fanatic.Follow him on X.
