Arch Manning Apologizes For Laughing At AI Video Of Coach Slapping Woman Reporter, Social Media Debates
Arch Manning, the grandson of Archie Manning and nephew of Super Bowl champions Eli and Peyton, is the quarterback at Texas and is coming off a 13-3 season.
Black News 
A third generation of football royalty has gotten wrapped up in his first controversy.
Arch Manning, the grandson of Archie Manning and nephew of Super Bowl champions Eli and Peyton, is the quarterback at Texas and is coming off a 13-3 season, winning this year’s season opener with a 24-23 comeback victory over the Ohio State Buckeyes in comeback fashion; the 22-year-old is riding a high.
After the big win, the media asked if he saw any of the craziness on social media, and that’s when things went off the deep end when he admitted he’d been locked in on one reaction post in particular, thanks to the wonders of AI.
“I’ve seen a few AI edits; 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. It’s hilarious.”
The video Manning’s referring to is a doctored clip of ESPN’s Holly Rowe interviewing Texas coach Steve Sarkisian after the game.
A hyped-up Sarkisian interrupts Rowe’s question, yells “Hook ‘Em,” then slaps Rowe across the face before running away with horns on his head.
In the real video, Sarkisian is just as pumped, but after yelling “Let’s go, Texas fight! Let’s go, Texas fight!” and “Hook ‘Em!” he walks off.
The room full of reporters laughed at Manning recounting the video, but today the mood has changed now that he’s apologized for the video depicting violence against women.
“In my press conference yesterday, I made an insensitive comment about an AI video,” he begins. “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.”
He continues, “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.”
Rowe responded to Manning’s message on her IG stories, accepted his apology, and chose to keep their in-person conversation between the two of them, adding, “We move forward with respect and kindness for one another.”
See social media’s reaction to the Mannings’ controversial press conference below.
