The source of surreptitiously filmed videos featuring a naked Erin Andrews remains a mystery, though ESPN confirms it is assisting investigators amid suspicions that one of its own might be responsible for violating the sideline reporter’s privacy.
The peephole footage shows the Atlanta resident alone in her hotel room, primping and ironing. It’s not known where and when the videos were shot, but TMZ, after viewing the clips, reports they were filmed in two hotel rooms, indicating the culprit was familiar with Andrews’ schedule.
"In conjunction with Erin's attorneys and appropriate authorities, we are exploring all possibilities," said ESPN spokesman Josh Krulewitz.
Police in Omaha and Buffalo have denied speculation that the videos were shot in their cities.
Andrews, on leave until September, has declined discussing the incident. Her attorney, Marshall B. Grossman, said in a statement, “[Erin] was the victim of a crime and is taking action to protect herself and help ensure that others are not similarly violated in the future. Although the perpetrator or perpetrators of this criminal act have not yet been identified, when they are identified she intends to bring both civil and criminal charges against them and against anyone who has published the material.”
ESPN isn’t reporting the story, telling the Associated Press “it has no bearing on her role as an on-air reporter.”
“Erin has been grievously wronged here,” ESPN's Krulewitz said. “Our people and resources are in full support of her as she deals with this abhorrent act.”
Not everyone is so sympathetic. Veteran sportswriter Christine Brennan, posting on Twitter, said, “Andrews incident is bad, but to add perspective: there are 100s of women sports journalists who have never had this happen to them.”
She continued, “women sports journalists need to be smart and not play to the frat house. There are tons of nuts out there.”
Andrews, a repeat winner as Playboy’s “Sexiest Sportscaster,” is a favorite on the Web, with roughly 366,000 images showing up in a Google search.
In a 2006 interview with the AJC, Andrews, who got her start with Turner Sports, expressed frustration with the “dumb blonde” stereotype.
“You can get off on the way you look for only so long until people figure you out, “ she said. “People judge you and say, ‘She got her job because of her looks, ‘ but they don’t know I was up at 2 a.m. studying and reading as much as I can about the game ahead.”
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