Kelly Ripa Fights Back Tears in Goodbye to Longtime “Live” Exec Art Moore: 'The Reason That I'm Here'

"I lack the vocabulary to properly tell you what you mean to me and to all of us here," Ripa said of the 'Live' fixture

Kelly Ripa is bidding farewell to a longtime coworker — and the "reason" she has stayed at Live all these years.

On Live with Kelly and Mark on May 1, Ripa, 53, celebrated two milestones: her 28th wedding anniversary with cohost and husband Mark Consuelos and the upcoming retirement of her colleague turned friend, Art Moore.

During the emotional episode, Moore, a longtime production executive at Live, announced his retirement from ABC after 53 years — and Ripa did not conceal her emotions.

“Today is actually my anniversary joining the company,” Moore revealed, joking, “And I’m only 42, which is amazing.”

Related: Mark Consuelos and Kelly Ripa Initially Thought Hosting Live Together Would Be 'Insane': 'The Answer Was No'

Ripa, who has cohosted the show since 2001, then shared plans to convince Moore — who also made frequent on-camera cameos during his 36 years at Live — to stay with her and Consuelos, 53, a bit longer.

“I got to tell you, I’ve said this before. I’m convinced over the next several months I will be able to talk Art out of retirement,” said Ripa of the executive, who currently plans to depart in September. “Because I am nothing if not relentless, as you know.”

The longtime Live cohost then revealed that Moore is “the reason that I’m here and that I’ve stayed here for all these years.”

“You are so, so important to me personally, to our family,” the television personality continued, tearing up. “You are one in a gazillion and you mean so much to all of us here. You’re the most special, devoted, loyal, extraordinary person I’ve ever met in my life. I lack the vocabulary to properly tell you what you mean to me and to all of us here.”

“We love and adore you and I will spend the next several months of my life talking you out of this,” she added.

Related: Mark Consuelos and Kelly Ripa Initially Thought Hosting Live Together Would Be 'Insane': 'The Answer Was No'

Consuelos — who replaced Ripa’s former cohost Ryan Seacrest on Live last April — then joked with the ABC vet that he “can’t help but take it personally,” adding, “I was the one that broke the camel’s back.”

Responded Moore: “Well… not quite.”

The longtime exec then revealed that his retirement plans will include spending more time with loved ones. However, still choked up at the idea of Moore’s departure, Ripa told the Live exec he won’t be “leaving this building” without her.

“So this might be exciting for you, Mark,” she joked. “You could have a whole new cohost and I could be retired with Art!”

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