Maia Dunphy says Ryan Tubridy told her his Late Late Show exit plans

"It’s important not to throw more untruths into this fiasco.”

TV star Maïa Dunphy has come to Ryan Tubridy’s defence amid the ongoing payment scandal with RTÉ. The former Late Late presenter faced the Oireachtas on Tuesday as he answered a lengthy set of questions from TDs about overpayments of €345,000. Taking to Twitter that same day, Dunphy said that although she has no part in it, she could not stay silent while people assumed the host’s departure from the TV talk show was planned in accordance with the incoming scandal. She stated that the TV presenter told her back in August 2022 that he planned on leaving the show. “Ryan Tubridy told me in confidence last August that after much consideration, he was planning to leave the LLS at the end of the season," she wrote. “I have no skin in this game, but as some seem to think he decided to leave suddenly because of this debacle, I can tell you that’s not true.”

Ryan Tubridy told me in confidence last August that after much consideration, he was planning to leave the LLS at the end of the season. I have no skin in this game, but as some seem to think he decided to leave suddenly because of this debacle, I can tell you that’s not true.

— Maïa Dunphy (@MaiaDunphy) July 11, 2023

She went on to explain: “It was at the RTÉ Autumn launch. I’m not usually at it, but had to go to promote a show. “I was a bit overwhelmed, as it was the first media event I’d been at since my Mum died. Ryan sensed I was struggling and took me out for some air. He’s good like that. That’s when he told me.” Concluding her post, Dunphy said: “One thing I have in absolute spades is a strong sense of fairness. It’s important not to throw more untruths into this fiasco.” You can follow along with the the latest news about the payment scandal on our Live blog by clicking here.

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