Erin Andrews: I Wasn’t Let On ESPN Until I Clarified Video Wasn’t Stunt

In the aftermath of being videotaped naked in 2008 at the Nashville Marriott at Vanderbilt University, former ESPN sportscaster Erin Andrews said she had to prove to the FBI and her employer that the video wasn’t a publicity stunt.

That was one of many revelations Monday when the current FOX Sports personality took the stand in her $75 million civil suit against the hotel.

Andrews recalled vomiting when she watched the tape with the FBI, according to The Tennessean’s Stacey Barchenger, and the sportscaster testified that ESPN required her to do a sit-down interview to clarify this wasn’t a stunt, Entertainment Tonight’s Shana Naomi Krochma tweeted Monday.

Deadspin.com provided a full transcript of Andrews’ testimony on the ESPN situation, which you can read below.

Q: So did ESPN require that you give an interview?
Yes. Because there wasn’t an arrest, because we didn’t know where this happened, my bosses at ESPN told me, “Before you go back on air for college football, we need you to give a sit-down interview.” And that was the only way I was going to be allowed back.

Q: Now, you did have the right to select who that interview would be done by, right?
I did. They were highly recommending it be GMA (Good Morning America), because ESPN and ABC are the same, and they wanted it on GMA. But like my dad had said the other day, I didn’t want it to be a two-second thing where it’s like, “Was this a scandal or was it not?” No, this is my life, and I feel terrible about myself, and we want to figure out how this happened. So I didn’t want to do it, I didn’t want to be a part of it, and I just said, you know what, “I know because she’s very public about it, Oprah is a crime victim.” I talked to her producers, I told her I didn’t want to do it. But this was the only way I was going to be put back on air, so we went to the Oprah show.”

Andrews’ father, Steve, testified Thursday in the trial, and he said his daughter is “a shell” of her former self after the incident.

Michael David Barrett, who videotaped Andrews through a peephole back on Sept. 4, 2008, was sentenced to 2 1/2 years in prison after he pleaded guilty to stalking.

Thumbnail photo via Samuel M. Simpkins/The Tennessean via USA TODAY NETWORK