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It’s rare, if ever, that Barstool Sports admits to making a mistake, but that’s exactly what the sports media outlet did this week by deleting a social media post mocking a Seattle Mariners reporter who recently suffered a stroke.
Earlier this week, a video of veteran Seattle Mariners journalist Angie Mentink using Google Gemini to craft a postgame question went viral, prompting all sorts of misogyny on social media — certainly not surprising given the content that Barstool Sports usually traffics in.
Mentink, a Mariners broadcaster since 1997, suffered a severe stroke in late February 2026 that paralyzed her left side. She spent weeks relearning basic tasks including walking, and recently returned to the booth as part of her recovery. The viral video was recorded weeks before the criticism surfaced and was misleadingly framed as occurring immediately after the loss in question.
Barstool Sports deleted their video mocking Seattle Mariners reporter Angie Mentink for using AI after she recently suffered from a stroke
This woman recently had a stroke.
AND some of your favorite male broadcasters use AI to help them write hits all the time.
I know because I was encouraged by a male colleague to use it as a “timer saver” and refused.
Do some research before you tweet insensitive nonsense. https://t.co/tPUzEX0AcB
— Taryn Hatcher (@TarynNHatcher) April 16, 2026
On Thursday, Barstool Sports issued a statement explaining the situation and why they took the post down.
“We deleted a prior post of a viral video making light of a reporter seemingly using AI to come up with a question at press conference. At the time of posting we didn’t realize this reporter was recovering from a stroke. In light of that we decided to delete it,” the sports media brand wrote.
Mentink also addressed the viral moment, saying that she was experimenting with AI earlier this season.
“Currently asking AI how to handle going viral for using AI,” Metnik shared on social media after the video blew up. “In all seriousness, I’m late to the AI party. Earlier this season I experimented with AI to see if it had any questions to add to my list for my postgame coverage. We’ve come a long way from pen and paper when I started in 1997. Always learning.”
Currently asking AI how to handle going viral for using AI. 😅
In all seriousness, I’m late to the AI party. Earlier this season I experimented with AI to see if it had any questions to add to my list for my postgame coverage. We’ve come a long way from pen and paper when I…
— Angie Mentink (@AngieMentink) April 16, 2026
After making a run to the American League Championship last season, the Mariners have gotten off to a rough start in 2026 as they currently sit bottom of the American League West with a record of 8-12 (as of Friday, April 17).