Texas star Arch Manning issues groveling apology to ESPN’s Holly Rowe over his ‘insensitive’ reaction to violent AI clip: ‘I need to do better’

Texas quarterback Arch Manning has issued a public apology to ESPN reporter Holly Rowe after receiving backlash over his moment in a press conference on Monday

Manning and the Longhorns are still coming off the high of beating then-No. 1 Ohio State at home, doing so thanks to a 20-point comeback in the fourth quarter.

By Monday, Texas was the new No. 1 team in the country. However, an awkward and bizarre post-game interaction between Rowe and Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian divided the internet when the coach blew off an interview.

Asked Monday if he’d seen the Sarkisian-Rowe exchange, Manning admitted to seeing a few AI-generated spoofs on the interaction. Specifically, the 22-year-old redshirt junior said he’d seen an AI-edit that showed Sarkisian slapping Rowe.

That comment sparked significant laughter among reporters at the press conference and Manning himself. 

Video of this exchange went viral with Manning blasted for his insensitivity and his ‘disgusting’ reaction to a video portraying assault on Rowe, a veteran reporter and cancer survivor.

The video was generated based on this post-game interaction between reporter Holly Rowe and Texas coach Steve Sarkisian, who blew off an interview and flashed a ‘Hook Em’ sign

Manning laughed with reporters in the room when discussing an AI video showing Sarkisian backhand slapping Rowe to the ground. A day later, he offered an apology on his Instagram.

‘In my press conference yesterday, I made an insensitive comment about an AI video. There is nothing funny about it,’ Manning said in an apology post to his Instagram story.

‘It’s easy to say I didn’t mean it, but I know my words and actions were hurtful to a lot of people. I do not take that lightly and am deeply sorry for that.’

Manning added: ‘I specifically want to apologize to Holly Rowe for what she has personally had to deal with because of my comments. I have a ton of respect for her and appreciate her showing me grace in this moment.’

‘I need to do better and will be more thoughtful going forward,’ the quarterback concluded.

Rowe responded with an Instagram story of her own accepting the apology.

‘Thank you Arch. I appreciate our conversation about this – which will remain private. Apology accepted. We move forward with respect and kindness for one another,’ Rowe said. 

The disturbing AI video in question shows Sarkisian backhanding Rowe to the ground before putting two fists up to his forehead and running away like a bull.

Manning’s comment drew significant criticism online, where some were angry with both the quarterback and the male reporters in the room for laughing.

WARNING – VIOLENT CONTENT

Sarkisian celebrated a memorable win after a dramatic fourth quarter comeback in Austin

‘A revealing & disgusting moment at Texas: Arch Manning, 22, unable to control his laughter while talking about the AI edit of his coach ‘slapping Holly Rowe,’ best-selling author and USA Today columnist Christine Brennan wrote on X. ‘And all the laughter in the room accompanying & encouraging him. Will be interesting to hear the explanations/apologies.’

‘There are just things you don’t comment on,’ another critic added. ‘Weird he thinks it’s funny to begin with.’

One Texas fan warned against making Manning available to the media: ‘Needs to be removed from all interviews going forward otherwise he will be asked questions about this 100x a week until the end of the season.’

But for all of the criticism, an army of Manning supporters quickly emerged.

‘I actually like him more now!’ one fan wrote on X.

‘The best part of sports these days is having women around to tell us not to laugh at stuff,’ read one sarcastic comment.

Another fan warned Manning and the reporters against issuing any apologies.

‘None of them should apologize,’ the person wrote, adding: ‘They don’t need to and I hope they realize that.’

Sarkisian’s Longhorns scored 21 unanswered points to beat Ohio State in a massive victory

But there was one apology on Saturday.

Since the Sarkisian-Rowe incident, ESPN’s Laura Rutledge has since issued an apology to Sarkisian for a technical problem that led to the cancelation of his halftime interview.

‘Alright, we actually just lost Sark because he had to go,’ Rutledge explained at halftime. ‘I’m sorry about that, you guys. He waited for a long time. Credit to him for waiting. We’ll try to get him on the way out of the half.’

Rutledge was unable to speak to Sarkisian as he made his way back out for the second half but later assured viewers that he had ‘been very patient’ and ‘apologized’ despite the fact she said ESPN owed him the apology.

She explained: ‘I do want to make sure we clear something up. [Steve Sarkisian] did decline the interview at the half.

‘He had waited a long time, been very patient with some technical issues that we had. He apologized to us. We should be apologizing to him, which we did.’