Making what she vowed would be her first and last public comments about an Internet video showing her naked in a hotel room, ESPN sportscaster Erin Andrews said that she was devastated by the invasion of her privacy and is still feeling the effects of it.Appearing with Oprah Winfrey in a previously recorded episode that aired today, Andrews first watched a compilation of news coverage of the peephole video and then said, "It's tough to see that again because you just feel like you relive it, but I'm getting better. ... It's been a nightmare."
Andrews said she still does not know who took the videos, but she said it was a stalker who followed her to at least two different places.
"I am a victim of a stalker because we know this happened in at least two rooms -- they got me in at least two rooms," Andrews said. "I'm a crime victim ... How do we find this person?"
"I've had law enforcement tell me, 'You're just going to have to deal with the fact that this is never going to come off the Internet,'" Andrews told Oprah. "They're never going to be able to get it down. ... The images are still up."
Andrews said she immediately called her parents when she saw the photos. Her father, who was at the Oprah taping, said, "She was melting down and I tried to calm her down. ... I was dying inside."
Although she tried to put on a brave face, Andrews displayed the physical signs of stress: She shook as she recounted how difficult the summer had been for her, and even under her heavy makeup on the show, it was plain to see that her skin had broken out into hives.
Still, Andrews insists that she won't let this break her.
"I'm not going away," Andrews said. "I'm going back to work."
What did you think of the interview? Tell me on Twitter @MichaelDavSmith.
Erin Andrews
In this photo provided by Harpo Productions, ESPN college football sideline reporter Erin Andrews, left, talks with television talk-show host Oprah Winfrey during a taping for an upcoming show Thursday, Aug. 27, 2009, in Chicago. In the interview, which airs Sept. 11, Andrews tells Winfrey that having secretly videotaped nude footage of her distributed on the Internet was a "nightmare."
George Burns, Harpo Productions / AP
Erin Andrews of ESPN attends the ESPN the Magazine's 6th Annual Pre-Draft party at Espace on April 24, 2009 in New York City.
Jerritt Clark, Getty Images
ESPN reporter Erin Andrews reports during the Wisconsin Badgers game against the Purdue Boilermakers at the Kohl Center on January 27, 2009 in Madison, Wisconsin. Purdue defeated Wisconsin 64-63.
David Stluka, Getty Images
ESPN television college basketball reporter Erin Andrews looks on during the game between the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and Connecticut Huskies at Joyce Center on January 24, 2009 in South Bend, Indiana. Connecticut defeated Notre Dame 69-61.
Joe Robbins, Getty Images
TV Personality Erin Andrews watches the action from the sideline between the West Virginia University Mountaineers and the Auburn University Tigers on October 23, 2008 at Milan Puskar Stadium in Morgantown, West Virginia. West Virginia won 34-17.
Ned Dishman, Getty Images
ESPN sideline reporter Erin Andrews smiles on-air during the game between the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets and the Miami Hurricanes at Bobby Dodd Stadium at Historic Grant Field on November 20, 2008 in Atlanta, Georgia. Georgia Tech beat Miami 41-23.
Mike Zarrilli, Getty Images
ESPN reporter Erin Andrews interviews forward Marcus Landry #1 of the Wisconsin Badgers after the game against the Ohio State Buckeyes at the Kohl Center on February 14, 2009 in Madison, Wisconsin. Wisconsin beat Ohio State 55-50.
David Stluka, Getty Images
Commentator Erin Andrews of ESPN reports from the sidelines as the University of Miami Hurricanes host the Texas A&M Aggies at the Orange Bowl on September 20, 2007 in Miami, Florida.
Al Messerschmidt, Getty Images
ESPN sideline reporter Erin Andrews looks for interviews on the field prior to the Virginia Tech Hokies against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Nebraska.
G. Newman Lowrance, Getty Images
ESPN reporter Erin Andrews poses for a photo after the Wisconsin Badgers game against the Michigan State Spartans at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wisconsin.
David Stluka, Getty Images
Comments (Page 1 of 2)
This tells you exactly what is wrong with the ignorant people in this country. We really have recieded so far from what we use to be. Thank you corporate America for the dumbing down of our youth, and the corruption and lies at the governing level. How the hell can a society produce any leaders when there are none to teach them how its done. America is dead. You keep going Erin. To hell with that sick bastard!!!!
IT WAS FOR PUBLICITY! This is what is wrong with America, people will do ANYTHING to be famous.
Big deal. So a few thousand people have seen her naked (and not a good view either). If she had any sense, in about 3 years when her announcing days are near an end, she will do a spread in Playboy and get paid for it. All this has done is give her more exposure, which in turn makes her more money in the long run. She needs a nose job anyway. She is just kinda hot, not real hot.
maybe the reason she thinks its a big deal is she has those things you lack, morals. Not everyone is such a pig about this sort of thing, but you apparantly are. Lets hope you never get any position of authority(I hope you don't vote either)
How is this a sports story just because she works for ESPN dosen't make tis a sports story. It's really not even interesting.
yes, exactly the right point.
Anyone see the latest pics in GQ that Erin Andrews did? One of them is her standing on a gatorade cooler surrounded by a bunch of college age football players. When she starts acting dignified and professional, THEN I might start feeling sorry for her when this kind of sh!t happens. Until then.... live by the sword die by the sword sweetie
You impugn this woman's integrity all because she was dressed in a football uniform, splattered with mud from head to toe, and standing in a locker room with some college football players for a mens' magazine publicity shot. Somehow, that, and her working as a sportscaster in a "man's world" is supposed to justify her being criminally violated. Yet you hold yourself up as some sort of paragon! Well look in the mirror "sweetie"! What you see there is just a self-righteous hypocrite.
Am I confused or what part of tracking an inside job at a hotel makes this so difficult to solve. I'm not critizing the police, but I travel and stay at hotels all over and only a small group of people know where and when I'm checking in. Or are they saying that this perv completed all this after she checked in????
Please go away. Women and sports sucks. Who cares about this slut.
You don't even KNOW this woman, but yet you call her a slut. I don't know you, but I can tell from your comment that you are a degenerate. A slutty woman can stop being a slut. There is no help for a degenerate.
I am saddened by not only the act commited against her, but by her going onto "that" program. Erin, that beast is dangerous. Stay away from it.
You and racists like you are the dangerous beasts. You continue to spew out your hatred and evil in your attempts to infect all with your poison. May all that you put out there come back on you one-hundred-fold and may you die a slow, agonizing death!
Let me get this straight: We know when she stayed in the 2 different hotels, we know appproximately who was staying next to her, given the views (& holes in the wall) so by process of elimination, how difficult can it be to track down this perv & prosecute?
Because he doesn't exist! Self-promotion at its best!
Please THIS is the topic on a day like 9/11?? How shameful Oprah and Erin, we are over it so stop being overly dramatic! If you want to get on with your life & career STOP BRINGING THE ISSUE TO LIGHT and on National TV. Enough already!
She's not on ESPN for her brains or in-depth sports knowledge,she's on because she's very good looking and draws more male viewers to ESPN,plenty of other,more sports qualafied people out there to do that,add to that the GQ spread.She has a right to privacy,but she shouldn't complain too much about being "exploited",she already is.
Whitey must be late for his Klan meeting.
The two most powerful people in the world are black, get used to it.
The mighty-minded "We Not Me" proclaimed:
>
Yes, indeed - but only with "Whitey's consent (or vote); which only establishes once again that "Whitey" is too good for his own collective good.
Oh well, thank God I'll be dead & gone before things (globally, as well as just nationally) get as truly horrendous as they undoubtedly will.
Those tapes were staged thing without a doubt. When you see them she posing in each and everyone of them. It reminded me a lot of the scene from "Animal House" when John Balushi was on the ladder looking into that window where that chick was posing.
Erin...to many videos; to much posing for the camera. If your career is going down the tubes then pose for Playboy to make your comeback.