Erin Andrews Recalls Fearing Her Career Was Finished After 2009 Secret Nude Video Leak

Erin Andrews is looking back on one of the most difficult moments of her life and career. Appearing on Wednesday's episode of the *Call Her Daddy* podcast with host Alex Cooper, the veteran sports reporter opened up about her traumatic 2009 privacy breach. She admitted that when non-consensual nude footage of her went viral online, she genuinely believed her time in television was over. The Fox Sports presenter described the individual who targeted her as "disgusting," recalling how a stalker followed her from city to city in the mid-2000s. At the time, celebrity phone hacks were not as widely recognized, and Andrews was not taking high-profile security precautions like checking into hotels under fake names.

Before the invasion of privacy came to light, Andrews was working for ESPN and covering high-profile events. Because her shooting schedule was widely publicized for shows like *College GameDay* and *Thursday Night Football*, it was relatively easy for a bad actor to monitor her travel routine. She noted that she did not use an alias because she simply did not view herself as a huge celebrity at the time. Her profile, however, was rapidly expanding. Offers were rolling in for mainstream entertainment gigs, including early talks with *Dancing With the Stars* and opportunities around the ESPY Awards. That exciting momentum ground to a sudden halt when she learned about the secret recordings.

BUZZBEAT

Andrews recalled that a friend who ran a blog attempted to reach her repeatedly throughout one afternoon while she was making her way to an airport. When she finally spoke with him right before boarding a overnight cross-country flight, he broke the horrific news that illicit footage taken through a hotel peephole was circulating on the web. The revelation left her feeling completely shattered and convinced that her professional future was ruined. Despite the immense distress caused by the violation, Andrews persevered in the industry. She went on to solidify her position as one of the most prominent broadcasters in American sports, currently serving as the lead NFL sideline reporter for Fox Sports.