Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning issued a public apology Tuesday after laughing at an AI-generated video that showed his head coach, Steve Sarkisian, slapping ESPN sideline reporter Holly Rowe, according to Breitbart News.
Manning posted the apology on Instagram, calling his remarks “insensitive comments” and acknowledging that his reaction had caused real harm.
“In my press conference yesterday, I made an insensitive comment about an AI video. There is nothing funny about it,” Manning wrote. “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 the lightly and am deeply sorry for that.”
He went on to single out Rowe directly, saying he wanted to apologize to her for the fallout she had personally faced because of his comments, adding that he has “a ton of respect for her” and appreciated “her showing me grace in the moment.” Manning closed by saying he needs “to do better” and will be “more thoughtful going forward.”
Rowe Accepts the Apology
Rowe responded by thanking Manning for the apology and referencing a private conversation between the two, according to Breitbart.
“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 controversy stems from Manning’s Monday press conference, where a reporter asked whether he had seen any of the viral memes that flooded the internet after Texas’s comeback win over the Ohio State Buckeyes on Saturday night.
Manning said he had seen “a few AI edits and stuff,” specifically mentioning “AI edits of Sark’s interview,” which prompted laughter from the assembled reporters. He then referenced the specific video, asking, “Have y’all seen that one? That’s a good one,” before adding, “Of him slapping Holly Rowe? That’s hilarious.”
The AI-generated clip depicted Sarkisian striking Rowe and circulated widely after Sarkisian’s brief post-game interaction with her. Rather than taking questions, Sarkisian abruptly ended the interview, gave the “Hook em Horns” sign, and ran off to celebrate with his teammates, per Breitbart’s account.
Backlash From Female Journalists
Manning’s comments drew sharp condemnation from several female journalists, who criticized both the quarterback and the reporters who laughed along during the press conference.
Apple TV MLB sideline reporter Tricia Whitaker posted a pointed response, asking her followers to imagine the woman in the video being their own family member. “Imagine Holly Rowe’s face in that despicable AI video was your daughter’s. Your wife’s. Your sister’s. Still funny? This is gross on so many levels,” Whitaker wrote.
She also pushed back on the idea that critics were overreacting. “And no, this isn’t people being ‘too sensitive’ or ‘easily offended.’ Joking about this in a room full of media members and seeing everyone laugh like this? Shame on you,” she added.
The episode highlights the growing tension around AI-generated content that depicts real people in violent or degrading scenarios, particularly when those images target women in sports media. In this case, the fabricated video involved a real broadcaster and a real coach, and it spread quickly enough to reach the team’s own quarterback before he addressed the media.
Manning’s apology came less than a day after the press conference, a relatively swift turnaround that may reflect the intensity of the online response and the sensitivity of the subject matter. Rowe’s acceptance of the apology, along with her decision to keep their conversation private, appears to have closed the immediate public dispute between the two.
What’s Next for Texas
The distraction arrives as the top-ranked Longhorns prepare for their next game. Texas, sitting at No. 1, will take on UT-San Antonio on Saturday.
For Manning, the son of Cooper Manning and nephew of Peyton and Eli Manning, the moment represents an early lesson in how quickly offhand remarks in a press setting can travel. His apology emphasized personal accountability rather than dismissing the episode as a joke taken too far, and Rowe’s response suggests the two have resolved the matter privately.
The broader conversation about the AI video itself — who created it, how it spread, and what platforms did or didn’t do to limit its reach — is likely to continue well beyond this week’s news cycle. For now, both the quarterback and the reporter he offended have publicly moved on, with Saturday’s game against UT-San Antonio serving as the next item on Texas’s schedule.
Source: www.breitbart.com — https://www.breitbart.com/sports/2026/09/15/arch-manning-apologizes-for-insensitive-comment-about-ai-meme-showing-espns-holly-rowe-getting-slapped/