Overview

• Pat McAfee publicly commented on the controversy surrounding his discussion of an unverified rumor about Ole Miss student Mary Kate Cornett during a live show on April 10, 2025.
• The false rumor, which originated on YikYak and spread through social media, alleged Cornett had an inappropriate relationship with her boyfriend’s father, leading to significant harassment against her.
• McAfee stated he never intended to cause harm and promised to find a 'silver lining' in what he described as a 'very terrible situation,' but he did not issue an apology.
• Cornett and her lawyer, Monica Uddin, are pursuing legal action against McAfee and ESPN, arguing that omitting her name does not absolve them of responsibility for spreading the rumor.
• Cornett claims McAfee never sought her input or verified the rumor before discussing it on his show, highlighting concerns about media accountability in amplifying unverified claims.