Tubridy's Unexpected Apology: A Self-Centered Regret- The Irish Times

2023-08-19 16:25:02

The only thing Tubridy seemed truly sorry for was himself – The Irish Times

During the recent RTÉ scandal, Ryan Tubridy expressed regret for his role, but it was clear that he struggled to truly mean it. His remorse seemed to be directed solely towards himself, lacking authenticity. RTÉ's new director general, Kevin Bakhurst, shared a mutual interest with Tubridy in moving on from the scandal, but Tubridy's inability to show genuine contrition hindered their resolution.

It's understandable that Tubridy may have been disoriented by the sudden reversal of his fortunes. Once RTÉ's golden boy, he was now seen as their bad boy, a result of the mess created by RTÉ management's obsession with protecting him from the station's financial realities. The former director general, Dee Forbes, remains a ghost in this debacle, yet to be held accountable.

The second Grant Thornton report made it clear that it was RTÉ management, not Tubridy or his agent, who misrepresented his earnings for multiple years. While Tubridy's omission to correct these figures was a mistake, their decision to misreport was deliberate.

Tubridy's Contradictory Apologies

Tubridy's apologies during the scandal were contradictory, highlighting his uncertainty about whether he should be sorry for his actions or not. Initially, he showed no remorse and deflected blame, stating he couldn't explain RTÉ's treatment of the payments. However, realizing his mistake, he later apologized unreservedly, acknowledging his failure to question the circumstances that led to the publication of incorrect figures.

Three Stages to Redemption

To regain his position as a popular RTÉ presenter, Tubridy and his advisers devised a roadmap consisting of three stages. First, he needed to admit that the Renault deal, which earned him €225,000 from RTÉ, was wrong. Second, he had to repay the money. And third, he had to cease providing implausible explanations. Unfortunately, Tubridy refused to acknowledge the wrongness of the transaction, only deeming it "unorthodox."

Although he initially volunteered to repay €150,000, it became apparent that he had not yet done so, leaving doubts about whether he ever will. Furthermore, he stubbornly clung to the notion that the Renault deal was a private arrangement between himself and Renault, rather than an RTÉ payment funded by the public.

Tubridy's refusal to let go of this fiction hindered his ability to move on from the scandal. It seems as though he may genuinely believe his own narrative. However, scandals cannot be brushed aside while still clinging to conflicting positions of remorse.

Tubridy's reluctance to fully let go of his resentment has kept RTÉ tied to the scandal's murky depths, preventing the organization from moving forward. As a result, Tubridy remains stuck in a state of anger rather than sorrow.

If you would like to know other articles similar to Tubridy's Unexpected Apology: A Self-Centered Regret- The Irish Times updated this year 2025 you can visit the category Entertainment news.