Texas quarterback Arch Manning, a Heisman Trophy contender and projected NFL prospect, has faced backlash after laughing about a violent AI-generated video portraying head coach Steve Sarkisian striking a female reporter.
Manning, the grandson of NFL legend Archie Manning and the nephew of Super Bowl champions Peyton and Eli Manning, was asked about Sarkisian’s tense exchange with ESPN reporter Holly Rowe after Texas rallied past No. 1 Ohio State on Saturday in Austin.
The victory triggered chaotic celebrations inside Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium. Sarkisian briefly stepped away from the festivities to speak with Rowe, who appeared to expect a routine postgame interview.
Instead, as Rowe began her question, Sarkisian spoke over her, shouting: “Texas fight. That’s called Texas fight. Hook ’Em!”
He then flashed the familiar “Hook ’em Horns” gesture before leaving the interview and rejoining his players and the students who had flooded the field.
When asked Monday whether he had seen the exchange, the 22-year-old redshirt junior said he had come across several AI-generated parodies. Manning specifically referenced one altered video that depicted Sarkisian slapping Rowe.
Reporters reacted with substantial laughter, and Manning also laughed during the exchange.
Arch Manning, a Texas quarterback and Heisman Trophy favorite, drew criticism after laughing about a violent AI video involving head coach Steve Sarkisian and reporter Holly Rowe
Steve Sarkisian made the “Hook ’Em” gesture while Holly Rowe attempted to question him about Texas’ victory
Sarkisian left the ESPN interview without responding to Rowe’s questions
“Y’all seen that one?” Manning said, laughing. “That’s a good one … of him slapping Holly Rowe. It’s hilarious.”
The disturbing AI clip shows a digitally altered Sarkisian backhanding Rowe to the ground, then placing both fists against his forehead and charging away like a bull.
Manning’s remarks quickly drew criticism online, with some users condemning both the quarterback and the male reporters who laughed during the press conference.
“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,’” bestselling 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 wrote. “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
Sarkisian celebrated a memorable win after a dramatic fourth quarter comeback in Austin
Sarkisian’s Longhorns scored 21 unanswered points to beat Ohio State in a massive victory
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.’
