On today’s, June 1 edition of “Home & Family,” host Debbie Matenopoulos addressed the departure of now former co-host Mark Steines from the Hallmark Channel talk show.

After welcoming viewers back during the final segment of the show, Matenopoulos brought the “family” together and shared the news with viewers at home.

“I’m here to share some news, and the family has joined me because we truly are a family here, and although we just had a really great show, we have a very hard announcement to deliver,” began Matenopoulos. “Our dear friend, our very good friend, and my wonderful co-host for years, Mr. Mark Steines is no longer with ‘Home & Family.’

“He has been an amazing friend to all of us here at Hallmark Channel, the cast, the crew and a wonderful friend to all of you at home as well. And we are grateful to Mark, and we want to thank him from the bottom of our hearts for six of the most incredible years that he has had here hosting this incredible show that he helped build. He really did,” she reiterated. “He’s been here from the beginning and a lot of this show has Mark’s hand print on it, so we support him in everything he does in the future… his future endeavors. We will miss him dearly and we will think about him fondly and often, and we thank you all at home for your kindness and understanding and your support and for being part of our family everyday.”

Matenopoulos’ comments marked the first time a public figure commented on Steines’ abrupt exit from the network’s daily chatfest. The network previously issued a statement on his exit to the press and on social media that said, “Today Hallmark Channel has parted ways with Mark Steines as the co-host of the network’s lifestyle series ‘Home &Family.’ We are extremely grateful to Mark for his incredible work and wish him all the best success in his future endeavors.”

“Hallmark gave us some vague reasons regarding ‘creative’ and specifically said it was not for cause,” a rep for Steines told PEOPLE magazine. “We have received nothing but positive reviews of him as the host of Hallmark’s ‘Home & Family.’  The show just received another Emmy nomination — that was the third. We know ratings have been up, and if you watch the episode this morning, you will see the shock and sadness by the cast when they had to make this announcement on air.”

Today Hallmark Channel has parted ways with Mark Steines as the co-host of the network’s lifestyle series “Home &Family.” We are extremely grateful to Mark for his incredible work and wish him all the best success in his future endeavors. pic.twitter.com/7TxYFehzC2

— Hallmark Channel (@hallmarkchannel) June 1, 2018