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Thu Jul 23, 2009 10:59 am EDT

On Erin Andrews: The lesson, as always, is don't mess with ESPN (or, you know, smash the bounds of common decency)

By Matt Hinton

I've studiously avoided the OMG nude Erin Andrews video flap that crashed onto the Web like a thousand waterfalls when ESPN confirmed the existence of the now-infamous illegal peephole video last Friday, for obvious reasons: a) The video, being illegal and reprehensible, didn't deserve (or need) the publicity, b) Yahoo! Sports bloggers elected to defer our response to the capable keyboard of Maggie Hendricks of Cagewriter, and c) Every angle in this story is fraught with more editorial, professional and perhaps legal peril than it's worth, including use of the word "angle" in discussing it. These are not eggshells you want to walk on.

Exhibit A: The New York Post. I passed on posting one Post story on the Andrews video early in the week because of the unbelievably reckless sourcing (even for the Post) therein, but that was nothing compared to the appalling lack of judgment or scruples the Post demonstrated Tuesday by actually publishing blurry (and illegally obtained) screencaps of the video with naught but black bars over the usual areas of Andrews' figure, an act of exploitation so shameless that it doesn't even deserve a link. Put it this way: You know you've crossed a line -- several lines, actually -- when you make ESPN look like a truly righteous defender of decency:

ESPN banned staffers from the New York Post from appearing on any of its programming on Wednesday after the newspaper published photos this week taken from a video showing sideline reporter Erin Andrews nude in a hotel room.

The Post published three images from the blurry video Tuesday.

"While we understand the Post’s decision to cover this as a news story, their running photos obtained in such a fashion went well beyond the boundaries of common decency in the interest of sensationalism," ESPN senior vice president of communications Chris LaPlaca said in a statement Wednesday night.

Good for ESPN, which I assume will be issuing similar (if purely symbolic) "Kiss Off" letters to CBS News and Fox News' morning show, Fox & Friends, both of which allegedly ran stills of the Andrews video on-air this week. And especially to Bill O'Reilly after Mr. Middle America unconscionably aired portions of the video -- not just stills -- on his show Wednesday night, when he declared the video "disturbing" and "criminal" while going far beyond any remotely mainstream blog by actually showing the disturbing crime to millions.

The AP story on the New York Post ban suggests the paper could face possible legal action under New York's voyeurism laws for disseminating illegally obtained material with no real journalistic value, in addition to action by Andrews, whose attorney said she plans to "seek criminal charges and file civil lawsuits against the person who shot the video and anyone who publishes the material." I'm a fake doctor, not a lawyer, and this blog has never sought the moral high ground, but when you publish or broadcast material that every depraved blogger immediately recognized as radioactive, you deserve whatever comes.

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84 Comments

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  1. James
    1. Posted by James Thu Jul 23, 2009 11:24 am EDT

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    I got nothing.
  2. zibby
    2. Posted by zibby Thu Jul 23, 2009 11:36 am EDT

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    Hopefully this will end all of the "blogs are the end of civilization" finger wagging articles by the ink-stained wretches, but I won't hold my breath.
  3. Joseph C
    3. Posted by Joseph C Thu Jul 23, 2009 12:03 pm EDT

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    After viewing the video 4 or 5 times, I agree it is an invasion of privacy. My prediction is that ESPN execs will recognize the the location as one of their dressing rooms and quietly make this go away. Assuming Ms. Andrews had nothing to do with it.
  4. mikez34
    4. Posted by mikez34 Thu Jul 23, 2009 12:18 pm EDT

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    It goes against any journalistic standard to run any image on this. I hate to say it, but ESPN is actually doing the right thing by banning people.
  5. Brigadoon
    5. Posted by Brigadoon Thu Jul 23, 2009 2:13 pm EDT

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    I would agree that this incident is despicable "peeping Tom" stuff and the perp needs to caught and punished. But I also have to say how tired I am of all the "Erin Andrews is a stupendous professional journalist" stuff. Not that she's bad, but just how hard is it to ask a coach "What are you going to tell your team at halftime?" and "What did you telll your team at halftime?" I mean really, folks, a whole lot of people, male and female, pretty and not so pretty, could do the very same thing.
    ESPN's hypocrisy is obvious in the aftermath of the incident. Their politically correct outrage is palpable. Let's face it, if Erin Andrews wasn't so easy on the eyes, she never would have been interviewed as a TV reporter for ESPN, much less hired. What's really sad is that unknown numbers of less physically-gifted women Journalism graduates out there willl never get the chance to demonstrate their skill and acumen because ESPN says they're not good-looking enough. Christiane Amonpour is a brilliant female journalist, not Erin Andrews.
    ESPN is in the entertainment business, not the journalism business. So let's put the creep videographer in jail but let's also be honest. The video would be just as out of line if it were of a swimsuit model, which is a more accurate description of the victim, than a fantastic journalist.
  6. timontiger79
    6. Posted by timontiger79 Thu Jul 23, 2009 2:29 pm EDT

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    this is just another way for ESPN to promote itself,their self-righteousness aside they don't give a damn about her .and why would miss andrews want espn to fight her very personal or not battle
  7. Eric L
    7. Posted by Eric L Thu Jul 23, 2009 3:00 pm EDT

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    I did like how the Post called ESPN a "Mickey Mouse sports netowkr" on page 6 today. ESPN also was told the other day not to report the Big Ben story. Does anyone recall AT ALL having ESPn make mention of the Big Ben story that surfaced the other day?? ESPN=Big Brother
  8. Socialclaymore
    8. Posted by Socialclaymore Thu Jul 23, 2009 5:19 pm EDT

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    Erin Andrews like most other female celebs/sports caster's got to where they are by their looks.
    It's not a surprise to want to see them without clothing because that's what we really want too see.
    Shut up,stop yaking about what you pretend to know about sports and and take your clothes off.
  9. Socialclaymore
    9. Posted by Socialclaymore Thu Jul 23, 2009 5:20 pm EDT

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    Erin Andrews like most other female celebs/sports caster's got to where they are by their looks.
    It's not a surprise to want to see them without clothing because that's what we really want too see.
    Shut up,stop yaking about what you pretend to know about sports and and take your clothes off.
  10. PHU2
    10. Posted by PHU2 Thu Jul 23, 2009 5:21 pm EDT

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    I confussed............did espn tell the post not to do it or did espn say it was thier reporter and the post did a story on it ?
    Imust be realy confused.
    I all so heard there is a virus going around to try to find the pics or film of her.
    I bet Bellidick was involved he seems to be good at undercover filming ..........JK.............chill out pats fans.
  11. Steve
    11. Posted by Steve Thu Jul 23, 2009 5:33 pm EDT

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    The worst thing about inbred bucktoothed goobers who search for and watch the video is that they take pride in doing it.
  12. Castor T
    12. Posted by Castor T Thu Jul 23, 2009 5:46 pm EDT

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    Erin Andrews entire image is based, rightly or wrongly, on her looks. How many people do you know when talking about Andrews' their first thought is "Great interviewer"? More like "great ass" and let's be real here. There are more capable women in the business who don't get HALF of what Andrew's gets based upon the fact that she's a pretty face.
    Was what happened to her wrong? Sure, it's an invasion of privacy issue after all. But I do wonder about the timing of all this. That video was up for months before all this coverage started and nobody knew nothing? I find that hard to believe.
  13. thip_ob
    13. Posted by thip_ob Thu Jul 23, 2009 6:09 pm EDT

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    I can't believe the flak ESPN is taking for defending her. I don't care who it was on that video, but just ignoring it was not an option for them. Everyone on the planet would defend themselves and sue the crap out of anyone who tried to exploit them. It is not ESPN's fault for outing that it was her. As far as I'm concerned they are doing the right thing.
  14. thip_ob
    14. Posted by thip_ob Thu Jul 23, 2009 6:11 pm EDT

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    I can't believe the flak ESPN is taking for defending her. I don't care who it was on that video, but just ignoring it was not an option for them. Everyone on the planet would defend themselves and sue the crap out of anyone who tried to exploit them. It is not ESPN's fault for outing that it was her. As far as I'm concerned they are doing the right thing. And this issue has nothing to do with ESPN's hiring practices or how talented Erin Andrews is. This is clear and simple an invasion of privacy.
  15. Relax
    15. Posted by Relax Thu Jul 23, 2009 6:21 pm EDT

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    What happened to Erin is a crime. It's sad when someone can't be safe in a locked hotel room. With that said,
    in my opinion, and I know I'll get flak for it, she's not that hot.
  16. Segs
    16. Posted by Segs Thu Jul 23, 2009 6:26 pm EDT

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    I can't believe people are defending ESPN. The network is closing ranks simply because Andrews is "one of theirs." ESPN has always been interested in the prurient and scandalous. Does anyone think for a second that if the story were about some athlete (male or female) or even some other network's reporter, that anything would stop the folks at ESPN from yakking about it all day?
  17. T-Dog
    17. Posted by T-Dog Thu Jul 23, 2009 6:38 pm EDT

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    Yep, you're going to get flak for it. What kind of standards do you have, Relax, if Erin Andrews is not hot? BTW, I agree with the first part of your post 100%.
  18. charley o
    18. Posted by charley o Thu Jul 23, 2009 6:46 pm EDT

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    I agree, i viewed it oh say 10 12 times after hearing about it, and seeing it on The FACTOR, its just terrible.. I am sure she had nothing to do with it....
  19. Rui
    19. Posted by Rui Thu Jul 23, 2009 6:54 pm EDT

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    Yeah I was done with this 2 days ago. NO ONE CARES ABOUT ERIN ANDREWS. PERVERTS CARE ABOUT ERIN ANDREWS, so in essence they got their wish.
    She is not a real journalist, she is a model who gets paid to look good on TV.
    That is all
  20. Scot
    20. Posted by Scot Thu Jul 23, 2009 6:54 pm EDT

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    I hope quite a few folks at the Post go to jail. For full sentences. Finally send a clear message to the scum that make up a lot of the press these days.
  21. kass0809@...
    21. Posted by kass0809@... Thu Jul 23, 2009 7:00 pm EDT

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    Relax,
    You are not the only one. Too W.A.S.P-y for me. Give me Jenn Sterger. (sp?)
    Also, I think that a news outlet could show heavily blurred still frames and I do think there is a non-vouyer news component to it, in that this would relay the extent of the crime. But hey, its not like I think it's society's great loss it nothing is shown as well.
  22. William
    22. Posted by William Thu Jul 23, 2009 7:02 pm EDT

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    come on man she dies her hair for god sake, she is not a great interviewer and why have they not talked about Ben from Pittsburgh, they ran to death the crap about Marshall in Denver with his problems? Who cares she will be back in the spot light doing her crappy reporting style...
  23. GregC
    23. Posted by GregC Thu Jul 23, 2009 7:06 pm EDT

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    ESPN blew this by identifying Erin Andrews publicly as someone pointed out
    If I'm Erin Andrews I sue *THEM* for a lifetime's worth of salary plus punitive damages. She is now going to be subjected to who knows what kind of lewd remarks from horny, drunk college fans while doing her job, right? Could've been avoided if this was swept under the rug as a "hoax" or a "lookalike" but they're too dumb to come up with that strategy.
    Erin Andrews should be paid in my estimation about $5 million by ESPN and be allowed to live out her life away from reporting if she so chooses to do so. This is likely to haunt her forever and ESPN can take solace in the fact that whoever did this is likely going to jail and/or paying a hefty fine when they write the check to EA.
  24. james
    24. Posted by james Thu Jul 23, 2009 7:06 pm EDT

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    In a few years,she will do nudes for playboy and make a few million.For now it will be one news reporter after another, writing a story a hundred different ways.
  25. The truth
    25. Posted by The truth Thu Jul 23, 2009 7:06 pm EDT

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    I heard that Ben Roethlisberger was the one who videotaped Erin Andrews. And that she is, in fact, a freak in the sheets

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