Ole Miss student Mary Kate Cornett intends to take legal action against Pat McAfee, ESPN for spreading viral rumor

Ole Miss student Mary Kate Cornett has retained legal representation with the intention of taking action against ESPN, firebrand host Pat McAfee and others after they helped propagate a salacious rumor about her that went viral on X/Twitter in late February.

“I would like people to be held accountable for what they’ve done,” Cornett told The Athletic in a report released Tuesday morning. “You’re ruining my life by talking about it on your show for nothing but attention, but here I am staying up until 5 in the morning, every night, throwing up, not eating because I’m so anxious about what’s going to happen for the rest of my life.”

Cornett and her family have accused McAfee, as well as Barstool personalities KFC Barstool and Jack Mac and former NFL player Antonio Brown, of defaming her and publicly spreading “categorically false and defamatory information” about an alleged story involving the father of her then-boyfriend.

The Athletic piece goes into great detail about all the ways Cornett’s life — and that of her family — have been upended in the month since the salacious rumor was spread online. McAfee is cited after jokingly teasing the viral rumor about Cornett — without directly mentioning the 18-year-old Ole Miss freshman by name — on the Feb. 26 episode of his ESPN show, The Pat McAfee Show, during an interview with ESPN insider Adam Schefter.

The Oxford (Miss.) Police are currently investigating the matter after the Cornett family filed a police report and employed a private investigator to look into the source of the online rumor.

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

Justin Cornett, Mary Kate’s father, began his Feb. 27 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.

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”