Erin Andrews of ESPN appeared on the Oprah Winfrey Show last week in her “one and only interview” regarding the illegally filmed video of her that was posted on the internet earlier this year. Millions of people had flocked to an array of sites to watch the video of a naked Andrews getting ready for work in at least two different hotel rooms.
Andrews was incredibly poised during the interview—especially given the circumstances—and yet also appeared somewhat anxious despite her years of on-camera experience. And who wouldn’t be after such an incredible violation of their privacy? As Oprah asked, how many of us would care to be filmed leaving the shower or bending over the bathtub during private moments?
What happened to Ms. Andrews after the pictures were posted, however, was almost worse. Several networks showed pictures from the video, blurring out the more personal parts and yet provoking further interest. Female colleagues made inappropriate remarks about the situation, and some people suggested that Andrews staged the event to further her career. While woman media professionals often are expected to walk a fine line between beauty and substance, there is a profound distinction between someone capitalizing on their attractiveness and being stalked with a video camera. To suggest otherwise is simply tarring the victim, a game that we seem to play with ever-increasing fervor in the internet age.
Ms. Andrews participated in the interview with Oprah to tell her side of the story and to announce that she would be resuming her role as sportscaster. She says that she is doing so as much for other young women as for herself. She is not going to let this horrifying experience beat her.
So we are taking a break this week from posting answers to the tough questions about sexist remarks to salute Erin Andrews for her gracious performance on Oprah, her refusal to engage in the media frenzy that typically follows such incidents, and her courage in returning to the already tough (for women) field of sports journalism. Through these actions, Andrews will serve as a role model for all young women, and most especially those who find themselves violated by a culture that uses sex in myriad forms to demean women professionally and personally.
As for the rest of us, the internet is and will remain a fact of life in this century, but how we use it says something about our nature and our character. I am sorry that so many people could not resist the urge to watch the illicit video of Andrews—taken and posted without her knowledge or consent. We need to do better.
Cynthia
