The video of Texas Coach Steve Sarkisian slapping ESPN reporter Holly Rowe was an AI fabrication. Texas quarterback Arch Manning knew it was fake, too.
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But his amused reaction to it — and the criticism that has followed — are very real.
Manning is drawing backlash after laughing during a Monday news conference about an AI-generated video that depicts his Longhorns coach slapping the prominent journalist and sideline reporter during a halftime interview.
Sarkisian and Rowe did have an awkward exchange after Texas’s 24-23 comeback victory over No. 1 Ohio State. Sarkisian approached Rowe for a live interview but, rather than answer her questions, he celebrated the win and quickly walked away. In the AI version, he pummels her to the ground.
Asked whether he had watched social media content following the victory, Manning brought up the altered video.
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“I’ve seen a few AI edits and stuff, but that’s about it. I saw an AI edit of Sark’s interview,” Manning said, smiling as others in the room laughed. “Have you all seen that one? That’s a good one. Of him slapping Holly Rowe? That’s hilarious.”
His response quickly lit up social media. NBC Sports college football reporter Nichole Auerbach criticized the laughter from men in the room, while WNBA player Brianna Turner described the episode as another indignity faced by women working in sports, saying “women in sports will never know peace.”
Manning, one of college football’s most prominent players and a leading NFL prospect, has not publicly addressed the reaction. Neither Rowe nor the University of Texas has issued a public response.
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