Jennifer Zamparelli has spoken out about the RTÉ payments scandal, slamming the “unfair” backlash against her colleagues who have been dragged into the drama.
Brand deals between RTÉ talent and other companies have been subject to intense scrutiny ever since the Ryan Tubridy payments scandal hit headlines in June.
While the deals are separate to RTÉ contracts, it’s understood they have to be approved by a line manager at the state broadcaster.
Last month, Lottie Ryan was ordered to remove an ad for a car company on her Instagram feed, which was filmed on RTÉ’s campus without permission.
Doireann Garrihy also hit headlines when it emerged that she had to remove an ad for a porridge brand, after it was taken in RTÉ 2FM’s studios without permission.
Speaking to the Irish Independent, Jennifer defended her RTÉ colleagues by saying: “People make mistakes. Lottie was saying herself that she made a mistake.”
“She was quite upset about it and I think we all need to move on from that.”
While Jennifer agreed that public interest in the brand deals is “relevant”, the TV presenter said the backlash against some of her colleagues made her “uncomfortable”.
“People went to town on Doireann [Garrihy] for example… and Marty [Morrissey], they were nearly high-fiving Marty for getting a car. So, that made me uncomfortable, you know?” she explained.
Jennifer went on to welcome the arrival of RTÉ’s new Director-General Kevin Bakhurst, and said she hopes things will change “for the better” at the broadcaster.
“I don’t think a lot of it was fair, but I think there needs to be clearer boundaries for everybody and I think the great thing about [Kevin] Bakhurst coming in is that he’s very reactive, in a good way.”
Jennifer said it was “disheartening” to hear the details of the RTÉ payments scandal, but admitted she felt “sorry” for Ryan Tubridy.
The scandal erupted after it emerged that Tubridy’s earnings were publicly understated by €345,000 over the last six years.
Jennifer said: “I was quite shocked by a lot of it to be honest with you. I had empathy and I felt sorry for Ryan [Tubridy] 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.”
“Everybody needs to take a little moment and reflect on what’s happened because the story was burning so fiercely and then there’s nothing and people move on, but people’s lives have been affected,” she continued.
“People want change and I do believe Bakhurst is going to do that.”
