Ryan Seacrest collapses on air while chatting with new host Mark Consuelos

It was an emotional exchange.

Ryan Seacrest broke down in tears during an episode of Live with Kelly and Ryan on Friday after welcoming Ripa’s husband and new co-host Mark Consuelos to the show, Entertainment Weekly reports.

It was announced on Thursday that Seacrest, 48, would be leaving the daytime talk show after six years and focusing on hosting the singing show “American Idol.”

“That is something [Kelly] and I’ve talked about it for a long time, and it’s been a tough, tough decision,” Seacrest said. “Last year we spoke and I made the decision to make this my final season as co-host.”

Seacrest said that he would not be leaving the show forever and that he would appear as a special guest host from time to time.

It was later revealed that Ripa’s husband, Mark Consuelos, would fill the vacancy.

The All My Children star appeared on the show on Friday to pay tribute to Seacrest.

“I want to say you are a brother to me, you are a family member to me. I got so close to you two,” Seacrest told Consuelos, 51. “The three of us sat together — before I moved here — and had real conversations about doing this for a couple of years. It’s taken longer than I thought and I couldn’t be happier to see you and be next to your wife who we both know is the most amazing human being on the planet.”

Consuelos echoed the sentiment, saying he’s glad the American Idol host has become a part of the family.

“I couldn’t think of a better person to sit next to my wife for the past six years,” Consuelos gushed. “You are a true friend. you are a brother You are generous to my wife, to my whole family. I need to meet your family. I love your parents, your niece, your sister, your brother-in-law.”

“The chair you are sitting in is an iconic seat. It is a great honor for me to sit there. It’s an iconic show and I think it’s going to be a blast. Thank you very much.”

According to a show insider, no one was surprised by the host’s departure. The insider revealed that Seacrest felt the strain of doing three duties between his radio show Idol and the talk show.

“Some of Ryan’s absences created tension for everyone involved in the show,” the insider said. “But everyone cares about him and respects him and just wants to make sure he’s okay.”

Meanwhile, Seacrest’s partner Kelly Ripa, 52, has barely missed a day in her 23 years on the show.