Dr. Phil, who has finessed payments to unsavory newsmakers in the past, says not this time.
No, he’s not bankrolling accused killer Jodi Arias’ family so they can live in Arizona during the lurid murder trial that has captivated cable news since January.
“Absolutely untrue,” the talk-show shrink tweeted over the weekend after reports surfaced that he was footing the family bills.
Chris Stark, a researcher who covers murder cases on her personal blog, posted a report over the weekend claiming Phil McGraw was getting daily notes of the trial from Arias’ parents in exchange for paying for their accommodations.
“I’ve never met the Arias family, and neither I, nor my . . . production company — has paid or promised them anything,” he wrote .
Arias, 32, is charged with the 2008 murder of her boyfriend, Travis Alexander.
McGraw paid $600,000 to the parents of accused child-killer Casey Anthony — though the money went to a foundation run by the parents — for their first TV interview following the acquittal of their daughter.
He also reportedly paid Dina Lohan, mother of train-wreck star Lindsay Lohan, for a rambling interview last fall.