Jennifer Zamparelli says she’s ‘uncomfortable’ with RTÉ scandal double standards

Simon Kelly

“They were nearly high-fiving Marty for getting a car.”

Jennifer Zamparelli has said she is “uncomfortable” with how some of her colleagues were treated in comparison to others throughout the RTÉ payments scandal.

In an interview with the Irish Independent, the presenter listed her podcast co-star Lottie Ryan and colleague Doireann Garrihy as examples, who were both criticised by the public after it was revealed they were doing product promotions on RTÉ property without permission from the broadcaster.

“People make mistakes,” said Zamparelli. “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.

“People went to town on Doireann for example… and Marty [Morrissey], they were nearly high-fiving Marty for getting a car. So, that made me uncomfortable, you know?”

Morrissey came forward as the RTÉ employee who took a five-year loan of a car from Renault after the news broke a few days beforehand.

The statement from Morrissey, in which he apologised to “viewers and listeners who may feel let down by my actions” received a mixed response, with some people feeling sympathy for the popular figure.

Zamparelli continued, “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.”

late — Jennifer Zamparelli and Doireann Garrihy on RTÉ’s Dancing with the Stars

Jennifer Zamparelli describes RTÉ payment scandal as “embarrassing”

Speaking about the revelations surrounding the RTÉ payment scandal, the 43-year-old said she found them “disheartening and embarrassing”.

“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.”

Continuing on the matter, the presenter said people need to “take a little moment and reflect on what’s happened”, adding that she believes Bakhurst’s appointment will bring about change to the national broadcaster.