Days after Michael Irvin denied misconduct toward a Marriott employee, the hotel company says he made the woman «visibly uncomfortable.»
Itvin says there were no inappropriate exchanges between him and the employee, but Marriott claims otherwise.
Marriott said a «visibly intoxicated» Irvin called «Jane Doe» and made small talk with her. Irvin and the woman allegedly shook hands with her, he asked if she watched football and he told her that he found her attractive. But then he allegedly became sexually explicit.
NFL Network’s Michael Irvin looks on during the NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on March 3, 2022 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
«Irvin also reached out and touched the Victim’s arm during this conversation without her consent, causing her to back away and feel visibly uncomfortable. Irvin then asked the Victim if she knew anything about having a ‘big black man’ inside». [her]»Marriott said in the suit, via USA Today. “Irvin then attempted to grab the Victim’s hand again and said that ‘I’m sorry if she brought back bad memories.’ The victim pulled her hand away from her and tried to move away from Irvin as he continued to move toward her.»
Irvin was removed from Super Bowl LVII assignments because of the Feb. 5 incident near the game site, but says he didn’t harass anyone.
«This makes me sick because in this great country, this takes me back to a time when a white woman would accuse a black man of something, and they would take a bunch of guys who were above the law, put them in a barn , they would put a rope around his foot and drag him through the mud, and hang him from the tree. Not a thought about what would happen, without investigation, not after repeated attempts by people trying to go and say, ‘Guys, this is what that really happened.'»
Michael Irvin attends the 2022 Harold and Carole Pump Foundation Gala at The Beverly Hilton on August 19, 2022 in Beverly Hills, California. (Rodin Eckenroth/Getty Images)
«How can I defend myself if I don’t even know what I’m defending myself against?» she said, before adding: «I’m surprised that in 2023 we’re still dragging and hanging brothers from a tree. I’m surprised I don’t get a chance to stand up, I don’t even know what I’m standing up for.»
A couple of witnesses said there was nothing inappropriate about the interaction, with one saying it was «super friendly.»
«There was nothing really unpleasant about the interaction,» Phil Watkins said, adding that the employee had reached out to Irvin. «Basically, I heard some laughter. I looked up, there was some handshaking. There was some more laughter, and they went their separate ways.»
HOF wide receiver Michael Irvin of the Dallas Cowboys watches the game against the Seattle Seahawks and Los Angeles Rams at CenturyLink Field on October 3, 2019 in Seattle, Washington. (Alika Jenner/Getty Images)
Irvin filed a $100 million lawsuit against the employee and Marriott after the allegations.
Fox News’ Paulina Dedaj contributed to this report.