ESPN has settled a sexual harassment complaint that included allegations against longtime personality Chris Berman.
The complaint came from makeup artist Sue Baumann, an employee of a company ESPN contracted to provide makeup services for its on-air talent, including the cast of "Sunday NFL Countdown," for which Berman has been the primary host for 30 years. Baumann was fired by the makeup company earlier this year; she filed the lawsuit after her termination, according to a report by The Big Lead.
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ESPN spokesman Josh Krulewitz said in a statement to The Big Lead that the network settled with Baumann to avoid a costly trial.
"Our thorough investigation revealed the harassment claims had no merit," Krulewitz said. "We settled it solely to save a considerable amount of time and litigation costs."
According to The Big Lead, Baumann’s husband reportedly notified ESPN producers about a series of inappropriate texts allegedly sent by Berman, who joined the network in 1979, shortly after it first went on the air.