Mary Kate Cornett, a freshman at Ole Miss, says no one has apologized for spreading a damaging rumor about her online.
Cornett stated that the false rumor was amplified by ESPN host Pat McAfee on his self-titled talk show in February 2025. On the show, McAfee, 37, discussed gossip circulating on social media about a student allegedly involved with her boyfriend’s father. Though McAfee did not mention Cornett’s name, the story quickly spread, with other sports personalities incorporating it into their coverage
The Fallout from the False Rumor
As a result, Cornett received hateful messages on social media and even in her dorm at Ole Miss. The harassment was so severe that she moved into emergency housing and switched to online courses.
“Having the entire internet—half the country—hating you, calling you disgusting things, telling you to kill yourself, saying you deserve to die… That’s a really hard thing for a girl to go through,” Cornett told NBC News on Wednesday, April 2.
She told the outlet that she has “no clue” how the rumor started on X (formerly Twitter). However, when her photo, name, and phone number were posted online, she became a trending topic and a target of harassment. Someone even sent police to her mother’s house through a false 911 call, according to NBC News.
“I was getting thousands of calls and texts. Calling me a whore, calling me a slut, telling me I deserve to die… all because of an internet rumor that has zero truth to it,” she said.
Calls for Accountability
McAfee has not publicly addressed his role in spreading the rumor. Us Weekly has reached out to ESPN for comment.
“I’m not a public figure you can just talk about on your show to get more views,” Cornett said, becoming emotional as she discussed the impact of the false accusations.
“I don’t think these guys realize what they’re doing to people,” she added. “It’s awful. And having your life ruined by people who don’t even know you is the worst feeling in the world. It makes you feel so alone.”
Legal Action on the Horizon?
According to NBC News’ Tom Llamas, “Cornett says no one has apologized.”
Earlier this week, she told The Athletic that she and her legal team are planning to take action against McAfee and ESPN.
“I want people to be held accountable for what they’ve done,” she stated. “You’re ruining my life by talking about this on your show for attention, but here I am, staying up until 5 in the morning, throwing up, not eating because I’m so anxious about what’s going to happen for the rest of my life.”
The Larger Impact of Online Harassment
Cornett’s experience sheds light on the growing dangers of misinformation and cyberbullying. Experts from The Cyberbullying Research Center emphasize the psychological impact of online harassment and urge stricter measures to combat false accusations on social media.
As Cornett pushes back against the damaging rumor, her case highlights the serious consequences of misinformation in the digital age.
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