I met Erin Andrews a few months ago during a fast photo shoot and even when our conversation stayed within the frames of our photo session my crew and I were able to sense and see the fragility of a woman who has been abused. She is a strong smart woman, you can't be wimpy while doing sports broadcasting on a male dominated field, but clearly I was able to see as if part of herself has been stolen. Her perpetrator only received less than three years in jail while the pain and damage of Andrews may never go away.
Nobody, specially a woman, deserves to be treated and violated as a sexual object to fulfill the sick fantasy of an individual who cautiously and methodically planned and created the perfect trap.
Michael David Barrett took the liberty of setting up his one man film studio in the inner privacy of Erin Andrew's Marriott hotel's room that, like our homes, should have a total sense of safety. Due to the negligence of the hotel's management he turned it into an open arena while a camera was filming her personal moments with the thristy intention of posting the video online. Most Hollywood movies or TV shows rarely get more than one million viewers yet Erin's video went viral attracting over 17 million viewers. I have not watched it and don't care either so who really are those viewers?
I really hope that this week Erin was able to find some solace on how her case was settled. It doesn't matter if the final settlement was 55M for not amount of money can give back a person's integrity, self steam and liberties that has been taken away.
The jury's final decision is a loud call to all of those wannabes peeping tom that is not OK to "do as I wish" with someone else mind or body. An assault does not have to be physical to cause damages and that is exactly what the court decided on this case. Is about respecting a person's tranquility and that a body is not to be touched, or filmed unless is a consensual agreement.
More than ever Andrew's case should be a reflection for our society to open up dialogues and act seriously about the daily gross abuses, rapes and humiliation women of all ages are presented either at home, workplace, a public space or a hotel room. No woman should be vilified, dishonored or punished for crimes occurred to them.