Is she is handler or something??? Or have they been surgically attached.

Thanks for this. I thought it was a nice moment, sounded like he was thanking the crowd on Alec and Richie's behalf. I don't see how it was a slam.

I think we all know that many people on this board are known to read into things that aren't there and then produce a response that would be an overreaction even if it was true.

What the f**k is this?!
I understand if richie left bon jovi because of the differences how to do good music. In fact i wonder why david is still in the band and how it took so long time for richie to leave. They both are talented musicians but staying in bon jovi is killing their creativity.

But what ever is the reason for richie's leaving, he is giving very crappy picture of himself by doing this nonesense.

i am not a jon hater, i am fan of the band...i m entitled to my own opinion...its obvious jon doesnt say anything about richie these days, in the begining he made some comments, some of them showed love, some other were poisonous...(the edge comment was an under the belt hit where richie was the target but hurt the whole band) and apart from all these i also criticise richie for making a fool of himself since april...BUT jon should realise that richie is bon jovi...he cant replace him, maybe richie isnt reliable the last years but trying to transform your band into e street is pathetic, its doomed to fail...
i hope everything works out but imo the richie reference was a sign that jon still thinks that everything is fine, richie should be happy with every decision he makes, and that bobby and phill x are equally good or even better...jon is a smart guy, he should realise he is part of the problem and involve richie-tico and david more...the next record,if there will be one, should be totaly different to wan and what it represents

Exactly. If he didn't mention Richie, people would go off on one. If he mentioned Richie first, people would say he is saying a thank you for him because he has left etc...

I thought it was a nice speech. Does the usual stuff but the extra names part and what not was pretty decent from Jon.

It amazing how the Richie diehards on twitter react to everything. They actually thought what Jon said was really nice but they are bent out of shape with the picture of Richie with the girl from the Breeder's Cup. Like any of them was actually going to go out with Richie. Did find online that the girl is Hannah Jones from America's Next Top Model and she is the new face of NikkiRich clothing.

What exactly is Jon supposed to say?? "Umm sorry fans but Richie decided he wanted to do other creative things like play cover tunes at charity events, sell clothes at malls and do the call to post at horse races so he can't be with us this tour".
It's not like before when Richie was in rehab fighting his demons.
I don't think Jon wanted to replace him and won't but are he, Dave and Tico supposed to sit around staring at walls waiting for Richie to decide he's feeling properly creative, that he "wants" to be out playing for a few million fans??? Noone knows what Jon will do with the band after this tour but for now Jon did what he percieved to be the right thing, he got a guitarist and he's finishing the commitments that he and the band made. Richie is the one that felt his personal whatever was more important than keeping his commitment, one that he made of his own free will by the way, to tour with the band he has been a part of for 30 years.

+1, i agree, well said