Mark Richardson made an emotional on-air apology to The AM Show fill-in host Ryan Bridge, whom he accidentally outed during Thursday morning's live broadcast.
The AM Show hosts were discussing collector's items when Amanda Gillies asked Bridge, who was covering for regular host Duncan Garner, if he collected anything himself.
Mark Richardson chimed in "ex-boyfriends," leaving Bridge, who has not previously been public about his sexuality, lost for words.
"Yes, it's true, I'm gay. There we go, it's out there," Bridge said eventually, after a long pause.
"God that was awkward," Bridge added, before moving the programme along to the sports bulletin.
Later, both Bridge and Richardson addressed the situation frankly.
"If you caught what was said before, it's not something I've tried to hide, it's something my friends and family have known about for a very long time," Bridge told viewers.
"The reason I haven't chosen to share it with you at home, with listeners on my [Magic Talk Drive] radio show is just that, I don't know, it's just not that interesting, is it?
"It's just my private business and my life and not something I've really bothered or care to share with the world, but it's out there, so that is that."
Bridge thanked the public for the "heartening" messages he had received since the revelation, before insisting that Richardson was not at fault.
"I wanted to say that Mark didn't do this on purpose. It wasn't like he was being mean, it was an innocent, honest mistake."
For his part, Richardson said that he was "dreadfully sorry," for what he said.
"In three years of doing this job, this is as bad as I've ever felt. I say a lot of stuff on this show, and I mean it, and some of it walks the line. I just want to say I'm sorry.
"It's because obviously I love you so much as a person. Just me being a smartass and trying to poke fun at you for a comedic moment on the show has led to this, and I'm dreadfully sorry."
Bridge told his co-host there was "nothing to be sorry about".
"These things happen. It's live television," Bridge concluded.
Gillies rounded out the segment by telling Bridge: "You know we love you to bits, completely."
"The way you've handled this with immense class - just beautifully - makes us love you even more."
Newshub.
