Is ESPN Protecting a Nude Erin Andrews Video?
Deadspin has the story today of secretly filmed video that found its way onto the internet. Shortly after the video went up online, ESPN lawyers contacted the owner of the site with essentially a threat letter. The owner of the site happens to be a friend to Gunaxin, Doug Sheckler from Epic Carnival and on205th, and he has taken the post down as ESPN has demanded. Here is the letter as published at Deadspin:
I am the General Counsel of ESPN, Inc. It has come to my attention that you have posted on your site pictures of a young, blonde woman at http://www.nsfwpoa.com/2009/07/hot-naked-blonde-who-looks-lot-like.html. These pictures were obviously taken through a peephole or otherwise in a fashion constituting a trespass/assault on the rights of the woman involved. Your continued posting of these pictures are highly likely to render you an accessory after the fact to a criminal act. We hereby demand that you (i) immediately remove these pictures from your site and (ii) disclose to us the source of the pictures. We intend to hold you fully responsible for further display of material that so obviously violates the law.
Please confirm by return e-mail that you intend to comply with these demands. In the absence of such confirmation we will assume you are an active and willing participant in these acts.
David Pahl
So I guess the question is, is it Erin Andrews in the video? How did ESPN find it so quick, when the original post makes no mention of them or her. If its not really her, why make a big deal about it? Shouldn’t David have tried to send Doug a pair of autographed Erin Andrews panties first, instead of strong arming him?
** UPDATE **
Since posting this earlier today, the internet has gone crazy with the Erin Andrews videos. Talk about your all-time backfires Mr. Fancy Lawyer Man. Ever heard you catch more flies with honey? When will lawyers learn that threatening e-mails are not the best method for handling a problem. Now lawyers representing Andrews have released a statement, confirming that the video is her:
“While alone in the privacy of her hotel room, Erin Andrews was surreptitiously videotaped without her knowledge or consent. She 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. We request respect of Erin’s privacy at this time, while she and her representatives are working with the authorities.”
So the ironic part of this? The original video is still online, and very easily found as I type this. The video was uploaded four months ago, and just recently re-posted with a vague description by a blogger. A threatening letter demanding a takedown and revealing of sources is what blew this thing apart, not a blogger. I appreciate that Ms. Andrews is upset about this, and her privacy has been violated, and a crime committed. She is definitely an innocent victim here. However that crime was not committed by a blogger, nor was it magnified by one. The original creator of the video should be held responsible for that, and in my opinion, Mr. Pahl should be terminated for mis-handling the situation.
** UPDATE 2
Our friends over at Don Chavez are filling in more of the details that I eluded to above, and have also done some impressive amateur detective work: What You Don’t Know Yet About The Naked Erin Andrews Hotel Videos
[...] Is ESPN Protecting a Nude Erin Andrews Video? – Gunaxin [...]
[...] Is ESPN Protecting a Nude Erin Andrews Video? – Gunaxin [...]
…. and now this is everywhere. Once again demonstrating that Lawyers aren’t necessarily the best equipped people to handle a situation such as this.
Where can I find the Erin Andrews Peephole video?
[...] Is ESPN Protecting a Nude Erin Andrews Video? | GunaxinThese pictures were obviously taken through a peephole or otherwise in a fashion constituting a trespass/assault on the rights of the woman involved. Your continued posting of these pictures are highly likely to render you an accessory … So I guess the question is, is it Erin Andrews in the video? How did ESPN find it so quick, when the original post makes no mention of them or her. If its not really her, why make a big deal about it? Shouldn’t David have tried to send …Read More [...]
[...] if every other blog is gonna do it, why shouldn’t we. Look, I’ve seen the video (my head may be full of [...]
Thank god for Google Cache.
So one question remains unanswered and makes the whole thing stink of publicity stunt: How the hell could this guy shoot video through a one way peephole? Let me say it again, in religious fundie all-caps:
HOW COULD HE SHOOT VIDEO THROUGH A ONE WAY PEEPHOLE?
It’s impossible. And I say so is the possibility that it’s actually Erin Andrews. Some other blogger said the peephole was on an inside door. That’s retarded. What purpose would a peephole serve on the INSIDE of a hotel room? The guy would have had to be in the room with her!
I cry fake and foul.
while it is sleazy,its a crime, how sorry can you feel for a person who makes a living going in the locker rooms of male atheletes. Yes hers is legal, what they did is not…she intrudes on the privacy of male atheletes, true some don’t care, but what about those that do…do they have a choice..its how they make a living….doesn’t make it right in any stretch of the imagination…but hard to shed a tear for her..how often does she feel bad for a naked athelete who might be embaressed by her being there when they shower
i think this is actually fucking hilarious….now she knows how everyone else feels when u get into their damn business…it doesn’t matter that she’s a sports reporter or not…she may not have been a paparazzi….when it comes to taking pictures or reporting….but hey we do have freedom of speech….and if she was in the wrong place at the wrong time hey thats her own fault…..paris hilton…tommy lee and pamela…u all really think they wanted that video to go public?…i think to a sense yes maybe…but if it was me i’d definently say no
alluded, not eluded.
After watching the video I still think that she knew about this being taped and it is nothing more then a publicity stunt. The “peephole” is at times so very close to her and on a couple instances she looks right towards it. Most hotel rooms are set up with only two walls that are connected to other rooms. And the angle she is filmed at judging by the window you see in the background this video could not have been shot from a peephole behind one of those two walls.
Sorry Grafikman. Hate to burst your bubble but it IS possible
to shoot video thru a peephole. The device is known as a peephole
reverser and it is sold by spy equipment companies. It is ususally sold mainly to law enforcement people, but I’m sure it’s
possible to get one. It is DIFFICULT to film thru it but it can be done.
if this is true… which i have my doubts about… the guy that filmed it is my hero
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