It seems like Pat McAfee’s free-wheeling commentary might have gotten him in trouble once again.
On a recent edition of The Pat McAfee Show on ESPN the outspoken sports commentator made reference to a social media rumor that alleged there was an affair between an 18 year-old freshman at the University of Mississippi and her boyfriend’s father. Other sports commentators including KFC Barstool also ran with the rumor.
The freshman McAfee was referencing is Mary Kate Cornett.
“When the more popular people started posting, that’s when it really, really changed,” Cornett told The Athletic outrightly denying the rumours.
Cornett began being harassed on campus, on social media and hateful messages were left on her cell phone when the number was made public. Her mother’s house was also the subject of a “swatting” putting their lives at risk.
Cornett and her boyfriend have both published statements stating the rumours are completely false. Cornett is now eyeing a lawsuit against McAfee, ESPN and maybe even others who arguably gave legitimacy to the rumour via their public comments and reporting.
“I would like people to be held accountable for what they’ve done. 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,” said Cornett.
