Erin Andrews, the Fox Sports broadcaster, has revealed that one of the most difficult moments during her traumatic experience with a stalker over a decade ago was informing her parents that she had been secretly videotaped. Andrews, now 45 years old, discussed the 2008 incident with stalker Michael David Barrett on Hoda Kotb’s “Making Space” podcast.
In an excerpt from the interview shared by TODAY.com, Andrews opened up about the incident that resulted in Barrett’s imprisonment and her subsequent struggle with post-traumatic stress. Barrett had covertly filmed Andrews multiple times through a peephole while she was naked in her hotel room in Nashville. He had also recorded her at a hotel in Columbus, Ohio, and later uploaded the videos online in 2009.
Andrews, known for her professional approach, expressed her disbelief at the scandalous situation. She recalled how she initially denied the existence of the video when a friend from Sports Illustrated informed her about it, stating that it couldn’t possibly be her. However, the reality quickly sank in, leading Andrews to make a distressing phone call to her parents.
Describing the emotional turmoil she experienced, Andrews revealed that her father initially believed she had been in a car accident due to her screaming. She expressed remorse for her parents’ ordeal and praised their unwavering support throughout the ordeal. Despite being in her thirties at the time, Andrews admitted to regressing into a teenage mindset, avoiding the harsh reality and relying on her parents for guidance.
Barrett, who admitted to tampering with the peepholes during a civil trial, served 2½ years in prison for interstate stalking before being released in 2012. Four years later, Andrews successfully sued Barrett and the management companies responsible for the Nashville Marriott hotel, resulting in a $55 million settlement.
The original article was first published on NBCNews.com.
