In February 2025, Mary Kate Cornett, an 18-year-old freshman at the University of Mississippi, became the unwilling focus of a false and salacious rumor that spread like wildfire online. The rumor was baseless, but it was amplified on one of the largest stages in sports media — ESPN’s The Pat McAfee Show.
What followed was a digital avalanche:
Threats. Harassment. Doxxing. Trauma.
Today, Cornett is fighting back.
How It Started: The Power of Amplification
The original rumor appeared on fringe social media accounts, alleging inappropriate behavior involving an Ole Miss student. Despite a total lack of evidence, it gained attention after Pat McAfee referenced it on-air, jokingly discussing the rumor with his panel.
It wasn’t long before the clip went viral, and Mary Kate Cornett’s name — entirely innocent — was being smeared across Twitter, Reddit, and sports blogs.
Real-Life Fallout: Harassment, Isolation, and Trauma
Cornett has since gone public. In an interview with People, she said:
“It felt like the internet threw me into a storm I didn’t create.”
She reported:
- Receiving thousands of threatening messages
- Withdrawing from campus activities out of fear
- Experiencing mental health strain, including anxiety and insomnia
- Having her photos and personal data spread online
Legal Action on the Horizon
Cornett has now retained legal counsel. According to The Athletic and New York Post, she is pursuing legal action against:
- 🏛️ ESPN, for platform responsibility
- 🧑⚖️ Pat McAfee, for amplifying the falsehood
- 📲 Possibly X (Twitter) and others for failing to contain the spread
Mary Kate Cornett isn’t famous. She didn’t seek attention.
But her story reflects what happens when media power meets reckless amplification.
“I just want people to be held accountable.”
— Mary Kate Cornett, via The Independent
In the age of likes and clips, the collateral damage isn’t always measured in dollars — it’s measured in lives.
