Texas quarterback Arch Manning issued an apology after drawing criticism for describing an AI-generated video that depicted coach Steve Sarkisian slapping ESPN reporter Holly Rowe as "hilarious." Manning made the remark during a Monday press conference held after Texas's 24-23 upset of No. 1 Ohio State.
At the same news conference, which followed social media reaction to the game, Manning said: "Nothing funny about it ... I need to do better," acknowledging that his earlier comment was insensitive. The video in question was not a real recording but an AI-generated clip circulating online.
The episode stems from a postgame exchange in which Rowe attempted to ask Sarkisian a question during the routine interview. The coach interrupted her, yelled a pair of Texas slogans and then walked off the field, an interaction that prompted wide attention on social media and the creation and sharing of manipulated content.
Rowe posted that she accepts Manning's apology and intends to move forward. The acknowledgement from both parties appeared to bring a swift resolution to the immediate fallout from the remark and the artificial clip, while highlighting ongoing concerns about the spread of manipulated media and reactions to it in sports coverage.