Attorneys for Michael Irwin have released surveillance video from his conversation with a female hotel employee accusing him and his employer of misconduct.
The video, obtained by Fox News Digital, shows the Hall of Fame receiver chatting with the woman for about two minutes before the two shook hands and went their separate ways.
The two initially shake hands before entering the hotel bar, and, throughout the conversation, Irwin appears to touch his elbow twice.
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Hall of Fame wide receiver Michael Irvin watches a game between the Seattle Seahawks and the Los Angeles Rams at CenturyLink Field Oct. 3, 2019, in Seattle. (Alika Jenner/Getty Images)
Irwin and the employee then shook hands, and she went back inside the bar. Seconds later, Irwin was seen slapping his face three times before walking towards the main entrance to take a selfie with someone, and then headed back to the lobby.
The video does not provide any audio, but Marriott claims a “visibly intoxicated” Irwin made the employee “visibly uncomfortable” and asked her sexually explicit questions.
“Irwin also reached out and touched the victim’s arm during this conversation without her consent, causing her to pull back, making her visibly uncomfortable. Irwin then asked the victim if she was inside. There is something about being a ‘big black man’. [her],” Marriott said in the suit.
“Irwin then tried to hold the victim’s hand and said he was ‘sorry if he brought back bad memories.’ The victim grabbed her arm and tried to back away from Irvine as he continued to advance toward her.”
However, Irwin denied that the conversation was ever inappropriate.
NFL Network’s Michael Irvin during the NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on March 3, 2022 in Indianapolis. (Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
“It makes me sick because in this great country, it takes me back to a time where a white woman would accuse a black man of something, and they take a bunch of guys who run away from the law. were up, run into a barn, put a rope around his feet and drag him through the mud — and hang him from a tree,” Irwin said. “Not thinking about what would happen, not investigating, not after people tried over and over and over again trying to say, ‘Guys, here’s what really happened.’
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“How can I defend myself if I don’t even know who I’m defending myself against?” he added. “It just blows my mind that in 2023 we’re still dragging brothers to a tree and hanging them. It blows my mind that I have no chance to defend myself – I don’t even Know what I’m saving.”
Fox 4 Dallas noted that Irvin and the female employee talked about football and the show Irvin worked on. Irvin was at a hotel near State Farm Stadium on assignment for the Super Bowl. After the incident, he was pulled from coverage by the NFL Network.
A A couple of witnesses said there was nothing inappropriate about the conversation, with one saying it was “super friendly”.
Michael Irwin attends the 2022 Harold & Carol Pump Foundation Gala at The Beverly Hilton on August 19, 2022 in Beverly Hilton, Calif. (Rodin Eckenroth/Getty Images)
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“There was nothing really untoward outside of the conversation,” said Phil Watkins, who said the employee contacted Irwin. “Actually, I heard some laughter. I looked up, some hands were shaken. There was some more laughter, and they went their separate ways.”
Irwin Filed a $100 million lawsuit After the allegations against the employee and Marriott.
Fox News’ Paulina Dedaj contributed to this report.
