Maia Dunphy has maintained that Ryan Tubridy did not leave the Late Late Show due to overpayments.
The producer and broadcaster divulged details of a conversation she had with Ryan last year in which she revealed he confided in her he was leaving his coveted gig back in August.
Maia attended a media event with Ryan last year shortly after her mother's passing. She felt 'overwhelmed' at the party and was taken outside by the Late Late Show host for air.
She wrote on Twitter: "It was at the RTE 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."
READ MORE: RTE rejects claims made by Ryan Tubridy and Noel Kelly over payments scandal
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The 46-year-old said she wanted to clear up issues surrounding Tubridy's decision to quite the Late Late. Her statement aligns with Ryan's claim his decision to leave the gig was "deeply personal".
Maia added she had "no skin in this game" but wanted to dispel rumours surrounding his departure. She also defended her decision not to share this revelation when the scandal initially broke.
She responded to a Twitter user: "’I'm saying it now because I didn’t know that anyone would be silly enough to think he’d leave because of this. Why wouldn’t he leave his radio show too?"
Ryan apologised to the Public Accounts Committee today for failing to ask questions. about his pay. He claimed he has had a "torturous few weeks" since the scandal broke but hopes to return to his radio stint.
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