RTÉ 2FM boss Dan Healy has denied rumours of a dispute with Jennifer Zamparelli over her contract.
On Friday, the popular presenter announced that she was taking an “extended” break from her radio show to go on holidays.
The news came amid industry speculation Jennifer was in a standoff with bosses relating to her contract, but these rumours have been branded “bulls**t” by Mr Healy.
Speaking to the Sunday World, he said: “She’s on leave. It’s bullsh*t. Bullsh*t, bullsh*t, bullsh*t. She’s on leave. It’s farcical.”
“She posted on social media that she’s going on holidays. The 2 Johnnies were off from the 14th of December to the 20-something of January.”
The radio boss insisted he has no problem with Jennifer, and explained: “It’s the reverse. She’s brilliant, absolutely brilliant.”
“On the breakfast show from the very beginning with Bernard (O’Shea) and Keith – she’s an absolutely brilliant broadcaster. She’s a superstar, absolutely brilliant. It’s absolute nonsense.”
Mr Healy also commented on the ongoing drama between Jennifer’s former co-host Keith Walsh and RTÉ.
The former Breakfast Republic presenter is set to sue the national broadcaster for hundreds of thousands of euros.
Keith has claimed that he is owed this money in entitlements he missed out on after being wrongly classified as a contractor.
The former DJ told the Irish Daily Mail over the weekend that he is also seeking compensation for the reputational damage he suffered after being dropped by the station.
Keith claimed he was forced to leave his role in 2020 after the Department of Social Protection found that he was incorrectly treated as a contractor rather than an employee during his seven-year stint at RTÉ.
The review is examining nearly 700 cases of potentially incorrect self-employment at RTÉ.
The review stated that in Keith’s case, RTÉ “exercised a level of control that would be consistent with that of an employer/ employee relationship.”
Dan praised Keith as a “very good guy”, and said: “There’s a process going on between RTÉ and the Department of Social Welfare, and has been. It’s been well publicised. It’s been RTÉ and the Department of Social Protection, not just the radio station.
“Keith’s a really good broadcaster and a terribly nice fellow. Keith’s no longer with 2FM, he’s a very good guy and a very good presenter.
“Clearly he has been scoped by the Department of Social Protection, that’s between RTÉ and the Department of Social Protection, about PRSI payments and so on.”
Despite the scandal, the 2FM boss said the station is doing “very well”.
“The schedule is very strong. Breakfast – Doireann (Garrihy), Donncha (O’Callaghan) and Carl (Mullan) – really going very strong,” he continued.
“Jen back in a few weeks. Tracy Clifford is going very strong and the lads (2 Johnnies) are flying it. Since the lads came on air in February 2022, they are up 26%, the quarters are astonishing. They are astonishing broadcasters.”
