Jennifer Zamparelli has admitted she “feels sorry” for Ryan Tubridy amid the ongoing RTÉ payments scandal.
On March 16, the 50-year-old announced his shock decision to leave the broadcaster’s flagship programme, The Late Late Show, after 14 years at the helm.
Just weeks after he hosted his final episode of the late night talk show on May 26, RTÉ was plunged into chaos when it was revealed that Ryan’s earnings were publicly understated by €345,000 over the last six years.
Speaking to the Irish Independent, Jennifer admitted she “had empathy” for Ryan when he was being scrutinised by the Irish population.
The mum-of-two told the publication: “I was quite shocked by a lot of it to be honest with you. I had empathy and I felt sorry for Ryan in a way.”
“He made a mistake. But is it worth him losing his whole career over? A career he sacrificed so much for – his family life, a quiet life, for this job?”
“But it was just incessant. It was quite disheartening and embarrassing, it was quite unbelievable to watch all of these things coming out that we had no idea of. It was just madness.”
“People want change and I do believe [RTÉ’s new Director General Kevin] Bakhurst is going to do that,” Jennifer continued.
Last month, Ryan and his agent Noel Kelly appeared before two Oireachtas Committees – the Public Accounts Committee and the Media Committee, to share their version of events.
When questioned by Alan Kelly TD as to whether he’s still in contract with RTÉ, the 50-year-old admitted it was his “understanding [that] I’m still in contract. My aim and hope is to go back to work.”
Elsewhere during the hearing, Ryan made a shocking statement, admitting he “could be out of a job by Friday”.
RTÉ’s interim Deputy Director General Adrian Lynch previously revealed that Ryan’s TV and radio contract had concluded, and that negotiations over his radio contract had been put on hold amid the ongoing scandal.
The broadcaster was plunged into chaos when it was revealed that Ryan’s earnings were publicly understated by €345,000 over the last six years.
The issue was identified during a routine audit of RTÉ’s 2022 accounts, prompting an independent review of the matter.
The RTÉ Board issued an apology over the error, and later Ryan also apologised for not questioning RTÉ over his published earnings.
The scandal resulted in the suspension of RTÉ’s Director General Dee Forbes, who later resigned from her role.
At the end of last month, RTÉ’s Director of Strategy Rory Coveney resigned from his role with immediate effect having appeared a number of times before multiple Oireachtas Committees.
On July 10, RTÉ’s new Director General Kevin Bakhurst confirmed the disbandment of the Executive Board when he took over office from Ms Forbes.
Later that day, Commercial Director Geraldine O’Leary announced her early retirement.
