Arch Manning’s postgame comments after Texas’ win over No. 1 Ohio State have sparked backlash, with some fans urging him to apologize for laughing at an AI-generated clip that showed Steve Sarkisian slapping Holly Rowe.
The moment came after Texas’ 24-23 win on Saturday, when Sarkisian’s real postgame appearance already drew attention. In a five-second hit, he cut off Rowe, yelled “Hook ’em,” and walked away. Texas later blamed ESPN technical issues for the awkward exchange.
But the situation escalated when fake AI edits started circulating online. One of the clips showed Sarkisian slapping Rowe.
On Monday, Evan Vieth asked Manning whether he had seen the edits, and Manning responded, “I’ve seen a few AI edits and stuff, but that’s about it. I saw AI edits of Sark’s interview.
Have y’all seen that one? That’s a good one.
Of him slapping Holly Rowe? It’s hilarious.”
He also said, “I saw the AI Edit of (Sark) slapping Holly Rowe.”
The reaction was immediate, and not in Manning’s favor. Many replies to Vieth’s clip criticized him for joking about violence toward a woman and said he should apologize.
One response read, “You need to apologize for this shit, and to say the VERY least. And to every adult ass so called man in that room laughing along with him, fuck you.”
Another said, “Gotta say, this was a very bad look for Arch. Violence against women is still such a stain on our society that it should never be used as a joke.
I’d like to hear @CoachSark make a statement and hear Arch apologize.” Others pointed to the people in the room with him, with one writing, “the room full of 40+ year old men laughing with him is much more concerning than the college kid finding it funny.”
Another said, “Fake or not, when it is ever ok to condone violence, particularly towards a woman?”
The backlash has put Manning in the middle of a messy moment that started with Sarkisian’s controversial snub and got worse once the AI slap edit spread. Manning’s reaction made him part of the story, and now the attention from Texas’ biggest win of the season has shifted to the fallout.
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