Texas’ Sarkisian says he could have ‘better’ handled postgame interview that spawned fake videos

Austin, Texas (AP) — Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian expressed regret on Thursday for his handling of a postgame interview with ESPN reporter Holly Rowe following a victory over Ohio State. The contentious exchange has resulted in the spread of fabricated videos and an apology from star quarterback Arch Manning.

Manning playfully commented on an AI-generated video depicting Sarkisian slapping Rowe during the interview. Following the controversy, Manning issued an apology the subsequent day to both his coach and Rowe. Rowe herself acknowledged receiving Manning's apology via social media.

During a weekly press conference with reporters, Sarkisian mentioned that his interviews with ESPN were delayed during halftime and postgame. He had initially intended to join his team's celebration after securing the win. Critics have blamed Sarkisian for not dedicating enough time to conduct the interview, which led to the subsequent fake video and other online content.

Sarkisian acknowledged that he and his team respect ESPN and reporter Holly Rowe, stating they could have managed the situation more patiently at the time. The short interview exchange ultimately triggered a cascade of fake videos and online backlash. Arch Manning's public misstep drew swift and widespread criticism, given his prominent status in college football.

The NFL star is affiliated with reputable brands such as Red Bull, Vuori athletic wear, and Google Gemini artificial intelligence. Sarkisian emphasized that they do not endorse domestic violence or violence against women and believe Manning did not intend any malicious intent when joking about the fabricated video.