Angie Mentink did not hide when a short video of her using AI went viral. Instead, she faced it head-on. The clip showed her looking up “good questions after a tough loss in baseball” before speaking to the Seattle Mariners. Some people online mocked her. But within hours, Mentink gave a calm and honest reply, and many fans stood by her side.
Angie Mentink responds to AI backlash with honesty and humor
The video was only four seconds long, but it spread fast. A fan recorded it without her knowing and posted it online with a sarcastic caption. The goal was clear, to question her work.But Mentink did not react with anger. She went on X and wrote, “Currently asking AI how to handle going viral for using AI.”Then she explained things clearly. “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.”That line changed the tone. Instead of defending herself, she showed how the job has changed over time. From notebooks to digital tools, she made it clear she is still adapting like everyone else.Mentink works with Root Sports and has covered the Mariners since 1997. That long journey gave weight to her words. This was not someone cutting corners. This was someone trying something new after decades in the field.
Angie Mentink’s journey, health battles, and fan support stand out
There is more to Mentink’s story than one viral moment. Earlier this year, she returned to reporting after a stroke in February. Years before that, in 2017, she was diagnosed with breast cancer.In an interview with Seattle Met, she spoke openly about her life. “I think that people see themselves in me a lot. Just being a mom…I gain weight, I lose weight, I have breast cancer, I have the same struggles as anybody else.”She added, “There is no such thing as losing. You either win or you get better.”Those words explain why many fans quickly supported her after the video. Comments poured in praising her work and her strength. One fan wrote, “Don’t listen to the haters, you’re the best.” Another added, “Thank you for all you do, Angie. One of the best people around the M’s.”Meanwhile, the Mariners moved on from their 7-6 loss to the San Diego Padres and prepared for the next game. But the bigger moment stayed online, a reminder that even experienced reporters are still learning.
