UConn communications director Bobby Mullen has apologized to a Charlotte sports reporter for allegedly threatening to “ruin” his life after he posted an unflattering video of Huskies coach Dan Hurley in the aftermath of the team’s crushing second-round March Madness loss to Florida on Sunday.
“Just a quick (and hopefully final) update: Bobby Mullen and I spoke a short time ago, during which he apologized for his behavior. I accepted it … and life rolls on,” Joey Ellis of Queens City News in North Carolina wrote Wednesday on X.
He did not elaborate further about their conversation.
Mullen and UConn have yet to confirm the apology as of Wednesday.
Ellis’ post on Tuesday came two days after he captured and posted a video of an audibly upset Hurley walking into the tunnel after the Huskies’ 77-75 loss to top-seeded Florida in the Round of 32 at PNC Arena in Raleigh.
“I hope they don’t f–k you like they f–k us, Baylor. I really hope they don’t,” Hurley said as the Bears were about to take the court for a matchup with Duke, seemingly referring to the referees.
The Blue Devils beat Baylor, 89-66, to advance to the Sweet 16 and will face Arizona on Thursday.
After the video went viral — it has since eclipsed one million views on X — Queen City News reported Mullen told Ellis he would “ruin his life” if he didn’t take down the video of Hurley.
In a statement addressing the incident, Mullen said a male reporter was in a restricted area when the video was filmed.
“The lasting image of coach Hurley leaving the court should have been his talking off the court arm-in-arm with his seniors, overwhelmed emotion,” Mullen said in a statement requested by CSL management.
“Instead, a reporter was in an area he should not have been, recorded on his cell phone a private comment made to members of another coaching staff.”
Mullen did not address the alleged threat.
The alleged threat was heard by other reporters and staffers present, according to Charlotte Sports Live.
Charlotte Sports Live and Queen City News said they stand by Ellis’ reporting.