Texas quarterback Arch Manning is walking back his words, big time. Fresh off the Longhorns’ monster 24-23 comeback win over Ohio State that shot them to No. 1 in both major polls, Manning found himself in hot water Monday after an “insensitive comment” about an AI video.
The “Hilarious” Comment That Blew Up
On Monday, after that huge win, Manning was asked about seeing post-game edits on social media. His reply? “I’ve seen a few AI edits of stuff, but that’s about it. I saw an AI edit of Sark’s interview. Y’all seen that one? That’s a good one of him slapping Holly Rowe.” Laughter, mostly from male journalists, echoed through the room. Manning, apparently caught up in it, added, “That’s hilarious.” He did follow up with, “Yeah, no, it’s fake. It’s fake.”
But the damage was done. This “ugly, reprehensible video” was a response to an earlier controversial post-game interview. Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian had cut off longtime, well-regarded ESPN sideline reporter Holly Rowe, saying “That’s Texas fight, hook ‘em,” before her question, and then bounced to sing the school’s alma mater. Rowe’s notable eye roll went viral, and someone decided to make an AI video about it. Now, Manning’s comments amplified the whole mess.
Manning’s Apology Drops Fast
The very next day, Tuesday, Manning hit Instagram with a full apology statement to Rowe and everyone else. “In my press conference yesterday, I made an insensitive comment about an AI video. There is nothing funny about it. 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 wrote. He then specifically addressed Rowe directly, saying, “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.”
It’s a stark reminder, even for a No. 1 quarterback like Manning, that every single word gets scrutinized, especially when the spotlight is this bright. The season just started for this top-ranked team, and Manning’s promise to “do better” is a huge one for him moving forward. Gotta keep the focus on the field, not off it.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
Leave a Reply