CNN anchor Don Lemon got choked up and teary-eyed on Friday as he mourned the resignation of CNN network president Jeff Zucker at the opening of his show, thanking him for being the “backbone” of CNN and making it possible for a gay, black man to anchor in primetime.

Zucker stepped down on Wednesday giving the dubious excuse that it was due to a “consensual relationship” that he had with chief marketing officer Allison Gollust. The affair was an open secret in the industry and had gone on for a long time. Most don’t believe that is the primary reason that led to him stepping down and there are rumors floating that former anchor Chris Cuomo had a hand in it.

“As part of the investigation into Chris Cuomo’s tenure at CNN, I was asked about a consensual relationship with my closest colleague, someone I have worked with for more than 20 years. I acknowledged the relationship evolved in recent years. I was required to disclose it when it began but I didn’t. I was wrong,” Zucker confessed to CNN employees. “As a result, I am resigning today.”