The Big Lead reported today that ESPN recently reached a settlement with a former makeup artist who complained of being sexually harassed during her time on ‘NFL Countdown,’ namely by its shows host Chris Berman.
Sue Baumann, who worked at ESPN for six or seven years as an independently contracted makeup artist, was allegedly on the receiving end of inappropriate comments and text messages from the 60-year-old Berman going back a few years. ESPN reportedly made the decision to settle with Baumann, who is represented by high-profile lawyer Gloria Allred.
The allegations were raised in the wake of Baumann being fired in the summer of 2015 by the company that contracted artists to ESPN.
ESPN spokesman Josh Krulewitz said in a statement to The Big Lead:
“Our thorough investigation revealed the harassment claims had no merit. We settled it solely to save a considerable amount of time and litigation costs.”
Berman’s agent has yet to respond to the incident.
Baumann reportedly connected with the ‘NFL Countdown’ crew, particularly of Tom Jackson, Mike Ditka, and Cris Carter, and became the main makeup artist for the show for five years, even traveling to Hawaii with them for the Pro Bowl.
An interesting tangent that is noted by TBL is that back in 2013, a relationship between a then-married Baumann and NFL Hall of Fame wide receiver Cris Carter began to take shape. According to police records, the cops were called to Baumann’s house twice in 2013. The first time, two private investigators showed up claiming to be “hired by ESPN.” The invesigators told Baumann’s husband to stop “calling and harassing an employee at ESPN.”
Baumann and her husband has since divorced.
[h/t The Big Lead]
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