ESPN Host Gets Restraining Order Over Threatening Messages.
Malika Andrews says a man has been terrorizing her and other ESPN on-air talent -- including Stephen A. Smith -- and things apparently got so scary ... she filed for a restraining order against the guy last week.
Andrews claims in court documents, obtained by TMZ Sports, that Ahmed Abubakar, a 41-year-old New Jersey resident, is the guy who has made her and some of her colleagues' lives a living hell for much of the past year.
She says Abubakar initially began messaging her on X in Sept. 2022 ... and while it at first seemed like actions from just an overzealous fan -- it turned into threatening and harassing behavior quickly.
She says it all grew even more disturbing when he somehow got a hold of her unlisted phone number over the summer and called her numerous times.
What's worse ... she claims Abubakar acted similarly toward Smith and "First Take" host Molly Qerim.
In fact, Andrews says Abukbakar was actually arrested in August for allegedly showing up to Qerim's Connecticut home unannounced.
In her temporary restraining order request, she also noted Abubakar had recently traveled to ESPN's Los Angeles facility looking to make contact with her, Smith and Qerim ... causing her to fear for her safety.
She asked a judge to order Abubakar to stay at least 100 yards away from her and others, including Smith and her fiance, ESPN reporter Dave McMenamin ... and hours after her filing, the TRO was granted.
A hearing on the matter has been set for later this month.
Malika Andrews says a man has been terrorizing her and other ESPN on-air talent -- including Stephen A. Smith -- and things apparently got so scary ... she filed for a restraining order against the guy last week.
Andrews claims in court documents, obtained by TMZ Sports, that Ahmed Abubakar, a 41-year-old New Jersey resident, is the guy who has made her and some of her colleagues' lives a living hell for much of the past year.
She says Abubakar initially began messaging her on X in Sept. 2022 ... and while it at first seemed like actions from just an overzealous fan -- it turned into threatening and harassing behavior quickly.
She says it all grew even more disturbing when he somehow got a hold of her unlisted phone number over the summer and called her numerous times.
What's worse ... she claims Abubakar acted similarly toward Smith and "First Take" host Molly Qerim.
In fact, Andrews says Abukbakar was actually arrested in August for allegedly showing up to Qerim's Connecticut home unannounced.
In her temporary restraining order request, she also noted Abubakar had recently traveled to ESPN's Los Angeles facility looking to make contact with her, Smith and Qerim ... causing her to fear for her safety.
She asked a judge to order Abubakar to stay at least 100 yards away from her and others, including Smith and her fiance, ESPN reporter Dave McMenamin ... and hours after her filing, the TRO was granted.
A hearing on the matter has been set for later this month.
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NewsTranscript
00:00 ESPN host gets restraining order over threatening messages.
00:04 ESPN reporter Malika Andrews was granted a restraining order Tuesday against a man she
00:09 claims has been threatening and harassing her and acting similarly towards two of her
00:13 colleagues, according to court documents obtained by TMZ.
00:17 Andrews, who hosts NBA Today and NBA Countdown, alleges that 41-year-old Ahmed Abubakar sent
00:24 her disturbing social media messages and contacted her at her unlisted phone number.
00:30 Andrews claims that ESPN's Stephen A. Smith and Molly Curram also received messages from
00:36 Abubakar, who was arrested in August for allegedly going to Curram's home.
00:41 Abubakar also allegedly traveled to ESPN's Los Angeles studios trying to contact the
00:46 three of them, according to court documents.
00:49 The temporary restraining order prohibits Abubakar from coming within 100 yards of Andrews,
00:55 her fiancé and ESPN colleague, Dave McMenamin, and Smith, among others.
01:02 A hearing on the matter is scheduled for later this month.