Popular ESPN host Pat McAfee has finally addressed a serious issue that made headlines earlier this year. Back in February, McAfee mentioned a viral sex scandal rumour involving a 19-year-old Ole Miss student, Mary Kate Cornett, during his live sports show.
The rumour turned out to be completely false — and it caused emotional damage to the young student and her family.
Now, months later, McAfee has apologized and admitted his mistake, saying that he deeply regrets his involvement in spreading the false story.
What Was the Rumour?
In February 2025, a disturbing rumour started going viral online. It falsely claimed that Mary Kate Cornett, an Ole Miss college student and sorority member, was involved in a scandal with her boyfriend’s father. These rumours were made worse by fake AI-generated videos, photoshopped images, and edited screenshots.
According to Cornett, the entire story was part of a cyberattack meant to target and shame her. Her father, Justin Cornett, also spoke out on Facebook and said the online hate campaign had used deepfakes and false content to attack his daughter.
Despite no proof, the rumour was picked up by some online platforms — including McAfee’s sports show — which made the story even more viral.
Mary Kate Speaks Out Against McAfee
In April 2025, Mary Kate Cornett spoke to NBC Nightly News and directly criticized Pat McAfee for talking about the false rumour on his popular show. She said, “I thought it was absolutely ridiculous that an ESPN sports broadcaster would be talking about a 19-year-old girl’s ‘sex scandal’ that was completely false.”
She shared how the fake scandal “practically ruined” her life and had a major impact on her mental and emotional health.
Pat McAfee Finally Breaks His Silence
On July 23, Pat McAfee addressed the issue during a live episode of his ESPN show. The 38-year-old host admitted that he was wrong to talk about the rumour and confirmed that it was entirely false. He said he didn’t do any real investigation and had simply repeated what others were saying online.
McAfee shared that he recently met with Cornett and her family to personally apologise. He said it was an “honour” to speak with them and express his regret. “As a girl dad, I was especially thankful to be able to apologise to her father in person,” McAfee added.
Why He Waited Months to Speak Up
McAfee also explained why he waited almost four months before talking about the matter on-air. He said that before addressing it publicly, he wanted to speak with the Cornett family face-to-face and make things right privately.
“There was a lot going on behind the scenes,” he said. “The most important thing for me was to meet the family first before making any public comments.”
Case Resolved Privately
Cornett’s lawyer, Monica Uddin, confirmed that the issue has now been resolved. In a statement to PEOPLE, she said, “The matter has been resolved to each of our satisfaction.”
McAfee ended his apology by saying he hopes this serves as a lesson for everyone, especially those in media. He admitted that his show contributed to the suffering of a young woman and that he truly regrets it.
This incident highlights how powerful and dangerous false information on the internet can be — especially when shared by well-known figures.
Pat McAfee’s public apology and personal meeting with the Cornett family show accountability, but the damage caused to Mary Kate’s life remains a painful reminder of how fast lies can spread online.
The situation also underlines the importance of fact-checking before speaking on public platforms, especially when real people’s lives are involved.
