Posted by Sabrina B. @gametimegirl

A former ESPN executive is suing a one-time colleague over allegations he fondled himself underneath an iPad while sitting next to sportscaster Erin Andrews on a flight.

Keith Clinkscales claims the suggestion he masturbated in front of the ESPN and Good Morning America reporter is a ‘flat-out lie’ spread by Joan Lynch, an executive producer he fired.

The 47-year-old ex-Vibe magazine president filed a defamation lawsuit in Manhattan Criminal Court yesterday, which accused Ms Lynch of having a partly racial motive for the accusation.

Mr Clinkscales, who left his role as ESPN’s head of content development when it was announced last month that the group was disbanding, also claims Ms Lynch was annoyed because he was promoted over her.

The move from Mr Clinkscales came after Deadspin approached him for comment about the story but before the article was published.

Then after papers had been filed, Deadspin published a report which detailed the alleged February incident on board a commercial flight from New York to Los Angeles.

Ms Andrews, 33, and Mr Clinkscale were travelling together on a work-related matter, with her in the middle seat and he by the aisle, the website reported.

‘At some point during the trip, Andrews saw Clinkscales masturbating in his seat, beneath his iPad,’ Deadspin wrote.
When he realised he had been caught, Mr Clinkscales allegedly panicked and said, ‘You know, I’m one of your bosses.’

(STORY CONTINUES…)
WRITTEN BY LAURIE WHITWELL & FULL STORY HERE