The internet has a dangerous habit of turning gossip into a full-blown scandal, and unfortunately, 18-year-old Mary Kate Cornett became its latest victim. A false and completely unverified rumor took over social media, turning her life upside down in a matter of days.
The University of Mississippi student is now stepping up after weeks of being quiet, not only to defend her reputation but also to call for accountability from those who spread the baseless claims.
How The Mary Kate Cornett Rumor Started
It all began with a single Snapchat screenshot that spiraled out of control. According to Evie Magazine, the rumor suggested that Cornett was allegedly having sex with Erik Solis, the father of her boyfriend, Evan Solis. The screenshot claimed that Cornett had gone to a basketball game with Erik, had drinks with him, and eventually “hooked up.” There was no real evidence, just a poorly written, gossipy message. But that didn’t stop it from spreading like wildfire on X.
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As the online mob swelled, users began creating memes, cryptocurrency tokens, and parody content based on the rumour. A second message then surfaced, offering a darker version of the events. It claimed Cornett was allegedly assaulted by Erik Solis after he got her intoxicated and took her to his house instead of home. Again, there was zero proof. But by the time people started questioning the legitimacy of the claims, the damage had already been done.
Cornett’s boyfriend, Evan, eventually broke his silence, calling the accusations “unequivocally false.” In an Instagram post, he defended both Cornett and his father, stating, “He is wholly innocent and being unfairly slandered with no opportunity to speak on his own behalf prior to these horrendously false statements.”
Harassment, Doxxing, And The Nightmare
Once the internet latches onto a scandal, real or not, it rarely lets go. Cornett was the victim of constant online abuse as the rumor gained traction. According to Yahoo News, she received an avalanche of hateful texts as her personal phone number got leaked. Strangers even took photographs of her without permission, made memes making fun of the situation, and slipped threatening messages beneath the door of her dorm room.
As things got worse, Cornett had to make serious changes to protect herself. She moved into emergency housing, removed her name from her dorm listing, and transitioned to online classes. A police report obtained by TMZ and The New York Post revealed that she first learned of the false allegations while at a salon in Oxford, Mississippi. Overcome with panic, she immediately rushed to her boyfriend’s house, only to find that the internet storm was already in full swing.
Her parents, Leslie and Justin Cornett, traveled from Houston to be with her. Her father told TMZ, “We felt absolutely helpless,” while her mother added that their daughter was treated “like she wasn’t a human being” online.
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Cornett later shared in a GoFundMe statement that she had filed reports with the University of Mississippi campus police, local law enforcement, and even the FBI. She described herself as “the victim of a deliberate and coordinated cyberattack spreading categorically false and defamatory information.” She also alleged that edited screenshots, AI-generated videos, and manipulated photographs were used to harass her online and that thousands of fake accounts had shared the content.
Speaking to The Athletic, Cornett revealed the devastating impact the controversy had on her mental and emotional well-being, calling out those responsible for spreading misinformation about her.
“I would like people to be held accountable for what they’ve done,” she stated. “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.“
ESPN, Pat McAfee, And The Legal Battle Ahead
Cornett isn’t just sitting back and letting the internet move on to its next victim. She’s now considering legal action against ESPN and The Pat McAfee Show, which she believes played a massive role in spreading the rumor.
On February 26, Pat McAfee and his co-hosts discussed the allegations on air. While they repeatedly used the word “allegedly” and avoided mentioning Cornett’s name, the damage was already done. Millions of people watched the segment, and it gave the baseless rumor even more exposure.
As reported by People, things escalated further when two media personalities affiliated with Barstool Sports shared the rumor on their social media platforms, making it even harder to contain. Cornett has stated that none of these media figures reached out to her for comment before running with the story something that only fueled the internet’s obsession. Although ESPN declined to comment when contacted by People on 1 April.
In response, her father launched a GoFundMe campaign aimed at helping victims of cyberattacks and online harassment. “The only way I could describe it is it’s like you’re walking with your daughter on the street, holding her hand, and a car mirror snags her shirt and starts dragging her down the road,” he told The Athletic. “And all you can do is watch. You can’t catch the car. You can’t stop it from happening. You just have to sit there and watch your kid be destroyed.”
The Investigation And Possible Lawsuits
A lawyer representing the Cornett family has confirmed that they are “pursuing all available options,” including litigation against those responsible for spreading the false claims. Meanwhile, the Oxford Police Department told People that an investigation is still ongoing but declined to provide further details.
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Despite everything she’s been through, Cornett hopes that her experience will serve as a wake-up call. The internet’s obsession with scandal can destroy lives, and it’s time for people, especially media figures, to take responsibility for the stories they choose to amplify.
For Cornett, this isn’t just about clearing her name, it’s about making sure that no one else has to go through the same ordeal. And in an era where digital gossip spreads like wildfire, that fight is more important than ever.
