The Ole Miss faculty freshman on the middle of a vile web rumor that gained traction in late February is seeking to take authorized motion in opposition to ESPN and Pat McAfee, who touched upon the wild accusations made in opposition to the teenager on his ESPN program, as the following fallout of the gossip unfold has been “ruining” her life.
Talking concerning the nightmare that has unfolded over the past 5 weeks, 18-year-old Mary Kate Cornett instructed The Athletic she desires “folks to be held accountable for what they’ve accomplished” in giving life to an unfounded rumor that she slept along with her boyfriend’s father.
“You’re ruining my life by speaking about it in your present for nothing however consideration, however right here I’m staying up till 5 within the morning, each night time, throwing up, not consuming as a result of I’m so anxious about what’s going to occur for the remainder of my life,” stated Cornett, who’s plotting authorized motion in opposition to ESPN and others presumably for his or her roles in “spreading the rumor,” in keeping with The Athletic.
McAfee — who didn’t reply to The Athletic’s messages for remark whereas an ESPN spokesperson declined remark — referenced the gossip on the Feb. 26 installment of “The Pat McAfee Present” with out particular point out of Cornett.
Upon briefing visitor Adam Schefter on the matter, the NFL insider responded, “So the place is [Ole Miss quarterback] Jaxson Dart in all this?” as McAfee’s present was taped from the scouting mix in Indianapolis.
Former NFL broad receiver Antonio Brown and Barstool Sports activities character KFC Barstool have additionally come beneath hearth for public mentions of the story.
“I (can’t) even stroll on campus with out folks taking photos of me or screaming my identify or saying tremendous vulgar, disgusting issues to me,” Cornett instructed The Athletic.
In late February, Cornett slammed McAfee and others in a press release shared on a GoFundMe web page organized by her father, Justin, with all proceeds to be “used to offer seed capital establishing a basis centered on serving to harmless victims of comparable defamatory cyber assaults.”
“I’ve been the sufferer of a deliberate and coordinated cyberattack spreading categorically false and defamatory data,” the assertion learn.
“… Irresponsible impartial social media influencers with obvious ties to Barstool Sports activities and even main public figures like Antonio Brown and Pat McAfee who hosts ESPN’s School Sport Day have shared these utter and full lies with zero curiosity within the reality, however as an alternative spreading outlandish conjecture. Nobody affiliated with these organizations ever reached out to us for remark. Most alarmingly, my private contact data has been doxed illegally shared publicly, placing my private security in danger. Many notes despatched counsel I even take my very own life.”
Justin expanded on the helplessness he’s felt as a father all through the distressing ordeal.
“The one manner I may describe it’s it’s such as you’re strolling together with your daughter on the road, holding her hand, and a automotive mirror snags her shirt and begins dragging her down the street. And all you are able to do is watch,” he instructed The Athletic. “You may’t catch the automotive. You may’t cease it from taking place. You simply have to sit down there and watch your child be destroyed.”
Cornett, who has since pivoted to on-line studying on the college, fears she’ll have bother within the job market over the matter, and has contemplated what her future youngsters would possibly assume.
“These of us … they will simply say no matter they need and destroy a younger lady’s life perpetually,” Justin stated.
Cornett added, “They don’t assume it issues, as a result of they don’t know who I’m they usually assume that I deserve it. However I don’t.”
The GoFundMe arrange in Cornett’s identify has since raised greater than $26,000.
