STRONGARM

Erin Andrews: ESPN Forced TV Interview

Had to talk about stalker before she could return on air.

Erin Andrews revealed Monday that ESPN forced her to appear on national television to discuss the incident in which she was videotaped undressing through a hotel room peephole before she was allowed back on air. During testimony in the trial over her civil suit against the Nashville hotel where she was taped, Andrews revealed that “everybody” thought the video was a publicity stunt—including her then-employer ESPN. The now-Fox broadcaster said her bosses said she needed to give a sitdown interview, against her will, before she could return to broadcasting duties and recommended it be with Good Morning America. Andrews ultimately chose to be interviewed by Oprah Winfrey. The video of a naked Andrews surfaced online in July 2009, and nearly three months later, Michael David Barret was arrested and convicted for interstate stalking.