Arch Manning under fire for ‘disgusting’ reaction to violent AI video of Texas coach attacking female ESPN reporter

Texas quarterback, Heisman Trophy favorite and NFL hopeful Arch Manning divided fans by laughing at a violent AI video depicting his head coach striking a female reporter.

The grandson of NFL great Archie Manning and nephew to Super Bowl winners Peyton and Eli Manning, Arch was asked about Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian’s awkward on-field exchange with ESPN’s Holly Rowe following the Longhorns’ comeback against No. 1 Ohio State on Saturday in Austin.

The win sparked wild scenes inside Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium as Sarkisian briefly pulled away from the celebrations to address Rowe in what she thought would be a customary post-game interview. 

But as Rowe tried to speak to the head coach, he simply shouted over her question: ‘Texas fight. That’s called Texas fight. Hook ‘Em!’

Sarkisian then added the ‘Hook ’em Horns’ hand signal for added effect before abandoning the interview to celebrate with his players and the students pouring onto the field.

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

‘Y’all seen that one?’ the laughing Manning asked. ‘That’s a good one… of him slapping Holly Rowe. It’s hilarious.’

The disturbing AI video in question shows Sarkisian back handing 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.

‘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.’

WARNING – VIOLENT CONTENT 

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.’

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.’