Felix Upton on July 23, 2025
Pat McAfee has officially stepped forward to own his role in spreading a false and damaging rumor about a college student—months after the story went viral online.
The ESPN host and former NFL punter used The Pat McAfee Show to deliver a public apology to University of Mississippi student Mary Kate Cornett, whose life was turned upside down after being wrongly accused of sleeping with her boyfriend’s father.
The original claim came from the anonymous app YikYak and quickly picked up traction online. McAfee repeated the rumor back in February without confirming if it was real. On Wednesday’s episode, he revealed that he finally met Cornett and her family—and personally apologized.
“I can now happily share with you that I recently got to meet Mary Kate and her family. And I got a chance to sincerely apologize to them and acknowledge that what I said about Mary Kate was based solely on what others were saying on the internet.”
McAfee said he waited to go public because he felt it was more important to face the family directly first. Describing them as “wonderful people,” he admitted he felt sick watching Cornett’s interviews detailing the fallout from the false accusations.
“I deeply regret the pain that was caused. I hated seeing what my show was a part of after watching her interviews and hearing what she went through.”
Cornett told NBC News in April that the aftermath was devastating. Her phone number was leaked, death threats poured in, and her family home was “swatted” in a horrifying prank that sent police to their door.
While Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy denied any direct involvement from his company, one of their employees had reportedly referenced the rumor online. McAfee never named Cornett when he first addressed the story, but his latest statement made things clear—and heartfelt.
“Our goal with this show is to make the world a happier place, a better place… I know we don’t always get it right. But we’ll never stop trying.”
Mary Kate’s father, Justin Cornett, praised McAfee for confronting the situation directly and with respect.
“It was refreshing to stand by Mary Kate’s side and see a man that made a mistake look her in the eyes and apologize with sincerity. Now the healing can begin.”
In a media world where viral rumors can spiral in seconds, McAfee’s apology serves as a rare example of taking accountability on a public platform—though it came only after serious damage was already done.
Please credit Ringside News if you use the above transcript in your publication.
Do you think Pat Mc Afee went far enough in making amends? Please share your thoughts and feedback in the comment section below.
July 23, 2025 8:21 pm
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