The AM Show host Ryan Bridge became emotional on Friday morning while reliving the time co-host Mark Richardson accidentally outed his sexuality live on air.
Bridge, Richardson and Amanda Gillies marked The AM Show's last day on air - before being revamped as AM in 2022 - by looking back at some of the most memorable moments.
One of the clips was from October 2019 when Bridge - who was filling in for then-host Duncan Garner at the time - was asked if he collected anything.
Richardson chimed in with "ex-boyfriends", leaving Bridge, who had 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.
Later in the broadcast, Richardson apologised profusely for his mistake, saying it was "as bad as he's ever felt" in three years on the job.
"It's because obviously I love you so much as a person," he told Bridge at the time.
"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."
Watching the moment back on Friday morning, Richardson addressed the gaffe again, telling Bridge he felt he had "let him down".
"Because you said, look, we don't go there. I was disappointed because I let you down through not thinking," he said.
"I also look at where you've come since that as a broadcaster and you've grown leaps and bounds."
Bridge wiped away tears listening to Richardson, explaining that watching back the clip brought up feelings about who he was at that time.
"I get emotional when I look at that because I think - again it wasn't your intention to do that but - I just look at that and I'm like man, that guy was holding something back, you know?" Bridge said, referring to his 2019 self.
Gillies said she recalled how well the moment was handled by both men, with "immense class".
"I remember looking at you Ryan, we were like 'holy heck'. And it was a moment, but you came back with such dignity and you owned it. And you were like, 'this is me' and it was a turning point. It was beautiful class, it was raw and emotional," she said.
"I know, Mark, you were in tears because you love Ryan and you were like, 'What the hell have I done?'"
Richardson pointed out that the fears Bridge had about coming out had "never manifested".
Bridge agreed, saying he had received messages from "all over the world" from people who hadn't come out about their sexuality beforehand and it had a "profound effect" on them.
"And it wouldn't have happened if you didn't say that because I wasn't talking about it. So in some ways, thank you," he told Richardson.
