Erin Andrews Awarded $55 Million In Court, Here's Why The Money Doesn't Matter

On Monday, Erin Andrews, famed sports journalist and sideline reporter, was awarded $55 million in her civil lawsuit against Marriott.

In 2008, Andrews travelled to Nashville on assignment for ESPN to cover a college football game.

It was then the Nashville Marriott allowed her stalker, Michael David Barrett, to stay in the room next to hers.

It was no coincidence; Barrett specifically requested to stay in the room next to Andrews, to which the hotel happily obliged.

Barrett had altered the peephole to her room, which he used to film Andrews as she dressed and undressed.

He then uploaded the five-minute video to the Internet. Barrett was sentenced to 2.5 years in prison for his crimes.

Following the decision, Andrews shared this message:

But here's why no amount of money will ever make up for the damage done.

As part of its defense, Marriott claims this video did not hurt the budding sports journalist's career, but rather, helped it "blossom."

At some point, it was even suggested that the video was actually produced as a publicity stunt to help bolster her career.

Andrews may have been able to bounce back professionally, now working for ABC and "Dancing With The Stars," but she will never be able to escape either this video or the victim-blaming it brought on.

In a tearful testimony, Andrews said she wished her boyfriend had met her before the incident to know what kind of person she really was. She added,

I feel really guilty he didn’t know me before this happened and to try to explain to someone who has questions about why I have trust issues, why I’m insecure, why I’m embarrassed; he doesn’t understand.

This video will never ever go away, but perhaps, her feelings about the matter will ease, and she will find peace knowing she inspired other women to face their stalkers, abusers and wrong-doers and stand up for what's right.