ESPN is striking back against the New York Post.
One day after the New York tabloid ran images from a hidden camera video of ESPN sideline reporter Erin Andrews nude, both on its front page and in an online story, ESPN has announced that it will “stop utilizing Post reporters on any” of its various outlets.
ESPN Senior VP of Communications Chris LaPlaca told Newsday that the decision was not taken lightly, but the New York Post‘s actions “went well beyond the boundaries of common decency in the interest of sensationalism.”
New York Post reporters Kevin Kernan and Lenn Robbins had been regulars on ESPN First Take, and “beat writers from various sports sometimes are interviewed [on New York’s 1050 ESPN Radio] or other stations.”
While the New York Post aired images of the video, CBS and FOX News Channel actually “used snippets of the video itself” during coverage of the story. Though LaPlaca called such actions “beyond the pale,” ESPN will not be taking action against either organization, as it “does not regularly employ those networks’ personnel.”
It should be pointed out that CBS has removed videos of The Early Show‘s news report on the Andrews story — which included portions of the hidden camera video — from CBS.com and YouTube. Whether that move was a result of a decision from within CBS or the threat of legal action is unknown.
