Mary Kate Cornett, a 19-year-old freshman at Ole Miss, says her life was derailed by a false, viral rumor accusing her of having an affair with her boyfriend’s father. The unverified claim took off online and gained traction after Pat McAfee discussed it on his ESPN show, without naming Cornett but giving enough details for viewers to identify her.
The fallout was immediate, Cornett says she became the target of a coordinated cyberattack that involved AI-generated content, fake screenshots, and manipulated images, all amplified by bot accounts and reckless social media posts.
Cornett is now preparing to take legal action against Pat McAfee, ESPN, and others who helped spread the rumor, including figures at Barstool Sports. According to a GoFundMe set up by her father, she was forced to relocate to emergency housing and switch to online classes after facing relentless harassment.
Barstool’s Dave Portnoy has since issued a public apology, calling the situation “sad” and admitting the brand was morally wrong. Meanwhile, McAfee has not directly apologized but vaguely addressed the controversy at a recent event, promising a “silver lining,” a response many critics are calling tone-deaf.
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