Marriot has released its own account of what happened during an encounter between Michael Irvin and a hotel worker last month, accusing the NFL Network analyst of making unwanted sexual advances.
The NFL legend was in Arizona to work at the Super Bowl but was relieved of his broadcasting duties ahead of the game after an employee at the Renaissance Phoenix Hotel & Spa accused him of harassing her.
Irvin is now seeking $100 million in damages from “Jane Doe” and the Marriott – the latter initially reluctant to share inside surveillance footage of the incident – and likened the situation to a modern day lynching in a news conference.
Marriott filed a motion in response to the lawsuit on Friday, defending itself with its own version of events from the February 5 encounter.
The application, seen by , claimed that the 57-year-old’s characterization of the incident was inaccurate and accused Irvin of making unwelcome sexual advances and asked the clerk “if she knew anything about her making a ‘big.’ black man” in it [her].”‘
Marriott has released its own account of what happened during an encounter between Michael Irvin and a hotel worker last month
He was sent home from the Super Bowl after an alleged incident in the lobby of this hotel
“Irvin’s attorney provided a self-serving, inaccurate summary of the footage Marriott produced, including his claim that the footage proves Irvin did nothing wrong, and then turned the microphone over to Irvin to make racist statements,” Marriott claimed in the Application.
“This takes me back to a time when a white woman accused a black guy of something and they took some guys who were above the law and ran into the barn, put a rope around his foot and dragged him through the mud and hang him on the tree,” Irvin said at a news conference earlier this week.
Marriott claims in the filing that Irvin “appeared to be visibly drunk” and approached the accuser, shook her hand, said she was attractive, and asked if she watched football.
“During this conversation, Irvin also reached out and touched the victim’s arm without her consent, causing her to step back and become visibly uncomfortable. Irvin then asked the victim if she knew anything about her having a “big black man inside her [her]’ the lawsuit says.
“Irvin then tried to grab the victim’s hand again and said he was sorry if he was bringing up bad memories for her.” The victim pulled her hand away and tried to pull away from Irvin as he continued to lean on her moved towards
Two other hotel workers reportedly noticed that their colleague was unwell when she returned to work, and the accuser went to work the next day and reported the incident to her manager, who told her to escalate the complaint to Loss Prevention, so the lawsuit.
The filing also claimed that after the accuser left the interaction, Irvin turned to another associate and said aloud, “She’s bad,” “She’s bad,” “I want to hit that,” and then “himself three times.” punched in the face”. say “Keep it together Mike.”‘
The accuser was later questioned by NFL investigators and Irvin left the hotel later that night.
Irvin’s attorney, Levi McCathern, denied the claims.
‘s filing accused Irvin of making unwanted sexual advances and asked the clerk “if she knew anything about her having a ‘big black man inside her’.” [her]”‘
Irvin – pictured at UFC 285 last weekend – is seeking a huge $100m in damages
The Hall of Fame wideout was removed from NFL Network’s coverage following the allegation
“The allegations are nonsense,” McCathern said. “We need to get Michael back to work immediately and I believe Renaissance needs to apologize.”
Marriott finally turned over video of the Marriott Hotel in Phoenix, Arizona, after a federal court ordered the chain to do so.
While the chain wouldn’t give him a copy or allow him to record the footage, McCathern says the exchange between the accuser – a hotel worker – and Irvin seemed innocent.
Marriott accused Irvin’s legal team (attorney Levi McCathern pictured) of “providing self-serving, inaccurate summaries.”
McCathern says the tape shows Irvin and the woman meeting behind a pole before coming into camera view.
The lawyer says Irvin saw him touch the woman only four times – twice for a handshake in greeting and farewell, and two touches on the elbow.
“She never seems upset,” McCathern said of the woman’s behavior.
“She doesn’t act like there are any problems at all.”
In addition to the video, McCathern produced via Zoom two witnesses who were in the lobby when the alleged incident happened – and said they saw nothing inappropriate between the two.
The two men, who were in a Phoenix hotel lobby on the night Hall of Fame wide receiver Irvin was accused of misconduct toward a female employee, said they saw nothing wrong with him and his brief interaction with the woman had been friendly.
Phil Watkins of Australia and Bryn Davis of Philadelphia appeared at a press conference via video link with Irvin and his attorney.
Watkins said he saw “nothing at all” that could be considered inappropriate and that Irvin and the woman shook hands and laughed.
“There was nothing unusual about the interaction,” and Irvin soon headed to the elevator while the woman headed back to the bar, Watkins said.