Ole Miss student Mary Kate Cornett accuses Pat McAfee, Barstool Sports of defaming her, threaten legal action

Ole Miss student Mary Kate Cornett and her family are threatening to take legal action after accusing ESPN’s Pat McAfee, former NFL player Antonio Brown and Barstool Sports of defaming her and publicly spreading “categorically false and defamatory information” about an alleged story that went viral on X/Twitter earlier this week.

Here is Mary Kate Cornett’s statement, posted by her father, Justin Cornett, to his Facebook account:

“Hello, this is Mary Kate Cornett. I am a student and member of Kappa Delta Sorority at the University of Mississippi.

“I have been the victim of a deliberate and coordinated cyberattack spreading categorically false and defamatory information. Partially and wholly edited screenshots, fake AI generated videos and manipulated photographs have been promoted by irresponsible social media participants and amplified by thousands of fake accounts. Not to be outdone by the Bots, Irresponsible independent social media influencers with apparent ties to Barstool Sports and even major public figures like Antonio Brown and Pat McAfee who hosts ESPN’s College Game Day have shared these utter and complete lies with zero interest in the truth, but instead spreading outlandish conjecture. No one affiliated with these organizations ever reached out to us for comment. Most alarmingly, my personal contact information has been doxed and illegally shared publicly, putting my personal safety at risk. I have received thousands of harassing calls and texts of a sick and demented nature, some of which suggest I even take my own life.

“The unwanted attention garnered here rose to the number one trending topic on X in the US and even associated me with an apparent meme coin using my name, image and likeness without my permission. To be clear, we have zero affiliation with this scam and have not participated nor know anyone who has benefited in any capacity from it whatsoever.

“The viral nature of these wholly untrue allegations have forced me to retain legal counsel, forensic data investigators, and seek alternative education/living arrangements while we find those responsible for these utterly false accusations, which we will. We have filed reports with University of Mississippi campus police, local police and the FBI. Rest assured, all criminal charges and civil remedies will be pursued vigorously.

“While our family has been blessed with resources to pursue the truth and defend our name via the legal system, others are not so fortunate. As such, my father has started a Gofund me where 100% of the Proceeds will be used to provide seed capital establishing a foundation focused on helping innocent victims of similar defamatory cyber attacks. Zero money raised here will be used for personal purposes.

“My heart breaks for the victims of defamatory cyber attacks and public doxing like this. The pain and heartbreak is immense. These lies have affected my family, my friends, my social organizations and school administrators. Ultimately, I have confidence we will get through this and ask for any and all support while our family and others affected slowly heal. I pray for the strength and courage to use this unwanted attention as a platform to help others whose lives have been turned upside down in similar circumstances.

“Sincerely, Mary Kate Cornett”

Mary Kate Cornett’s father promises ‘to those responsible, we will find you’

Justin Cornett began his Facebook post by claiming his daughter “has been the subject of a totally and categorically false, malicious, organized and defamatory cyber attack” regarding a salacious viral story that made the rounds on social media earlier in the week.

The Cornett family also announced it has filed police reports with the Oxford Police and the University of Mississippi campus police, and have also been in contact with the FBI and the office of Texas congressman Wesley Hunt, who represents the family’s home district.

Justin Cornett has also hired a forensic data private investivation team in an effort to identify those responsible for the initial viral story, which he described as “some sort of fraternity prank that has mushroomed out of control.”

“I refuse to let my family be targeted and am fully committed to pursuing all criminal and civil actiona available,” Justin Cornett wrote on his Facebook post. “To those responsible, we will find you.”

The Cornett family has also started a GoFundMe account with the goal of providing seed capital towards starting a foundation “to provide much needed assistance to less fortunate targets of cybercrime.”