Bill Belichick is still defending the decision to allow his girlfriend, Jordon Hudson, to participate in his interview with CBS in April. WRAL News reporter Brian Murphy explained Friday that Belichick said Hudson was at the interview because a publicist from his publisher was not.

The interview was arranged for Belichick to promote his new book, “The Art of Winning: Lessons from My Life in Football,” but things took a turn after the 73-year-old was asked how he and his 24-year-old girlfriend met, as Hudson interrupted and shut down the question. An email from Belichick explained why Hudson was even there in the first place.