Ole Miss student Mary Kate Cornett alleged she is “the victim of a deliberate and coordinated cyber attack spreading categorically false and defamatory information,” which includes false rumors that she slept with her boyfriend’s father, as stated in a GoFundMe page created in her name by her father, Justin Cornett.
Cornett claimed that “partially and wholly edited screenshots, fake AI generated videos and manipulated photographs have been promoted by irresponsible social media participants and amplified by thousands of fake accounts.”
She specifically mentioned Barstool Sports, former NFL player Antonio Brown and ESPN personality Pat McAfee.
Barstool employee KFC discussed the scandal on his personal social media accounts and McAfee brought up the alleged accusations in an interview with Adam Schefter this week, TMZ reported.
“No one affiliated with these organizations ever reached out to us for comment,” Cornett said. “Most alarmingly, my personal contact information has been doxed illegally shared publicly, putting my personal safety at risk. Many notes sent suggest I even take my own life.”
Barstool founder Dave Portnoy denied the accusations.
“Barstool Sports did not mention or spread this rumor on any of our Barstool owned channels as far as I know,” Portnoy said. “Our editors instinctively made the decision to avoid this story as it seemed there was a high likelihood it could have been fabricated. If I’m wrong about that I’m happy to see where it was posted and revisit.”
Regarding KFC’s video, Portnoy said, “We do not control our employees personal socials. Whatever they post on their own is their own stuff.”
ESPN declined to comment.
Cornett’s father also shared the allegations in a separate post on Facebook and tagged his wife and daughter.
Cornett said the situation led her to obtain legal counsel and seek “alternative education/living arrangements.”
“We have filed reports with University of Mississippi campus police, local police and the FBI,” she wrote. “Rest assured, all criminal charges and civil remedies will be pursued vigorously.”
Cornett said 100 percent of the proceeds from her GoFundMe “will be used to provide seed capital establishing a foundation focused on helping innocent victims of similar defamatory cyber attacks. Zero money raised here will be used for personal purposes.”
