ESPN Releases Statement on Erin Andrews' Testimony in Lawsuit Against Stalker

ESPN released a statement Tuesday denying the interpretation of testimony in Erin Andrews' ongoing lawsuit against a Nashville Marriott that it was unsupportive of the broadcaster when a nude hotel video of her leaked in 2008.    

"Developments in the case have been interpreted by some to mean that ESPN was unsupportive of Erin in the aftermath of her ordeal. Nothing could be further from the truth. We have been and continue to be supportive of Erin," the statement read, per Sports Illustrated's Richard Deitsch. 

Andrews testified Monday that ESPN coerced her into giving an on-camera interview about the hotel video—filmed by her stalker through a peephole without her knowledge—as a condition of her returning to work. 

"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.'" Andrews said, per Kevin Draper of Deadspin. "And that was the only way I was going to be allowed back."

Following the tape's leak, Andrews was off the air for several months. At the behest of her bosses, Andrews said she organized a sit-down interview with Oprah Winfrey so she could resume her career.

"No, this is my life, and I feel terrible about myself, and we want to figure out how this happened," Andrews said. "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 also testified "everybody" believed she helped leak the video as part of a publicity stunt. She did not outright say whether she felt ESPN brass was included in that generalization. 

Michael David Barrett was later arrested and pleaded guilty in 2009 to stalking and taping Andrews. He was sentenced to 30 months in prison, which Andrews did not feel was enough.

Andrews is suing Barrett and the Nashville Marriott for $75 million in personal damages. She worked for ESPN from 2004-2012 before leaving for Fox Sports. 

Follow Tyler Conway (@jtylerconway) on Twitter.