Pat McAfee Addresses Controversy Involving Mary Kate Cornett During Live Show

Pat McAfee broke his silence on Wednesday regarding the controversy surrounding Mary Kate Cornett, speaking publicly for the first time since he was accused of amplifying false and harmful rumors about the Ole Miss freshman.

During his live show, Big Night Aht, McAfee was reflecting on past legal issues, including a settled defamation lawsuit filed by former NFL quarterback Brett Favre, when he pivoted to address the Cornett situation — though he notably never mentioned her by name.

While McAfee did not issue a direct apology, he expressed regret over potentially contributing to someone's distress and vowed to work toward a “silver lining” in what he called a “terrible situation.”

“I never, ever want to be a part of anything negative in anybody's life, ever,” McAfee said. “That is not what I want to do… For that whole thing that's happening, I didn't want to add any more negativity as it was taking place… we will try to figure that out and make some sort of silver lining… You can have that promise from me.”

McAfee’s remarks come after The Athletic published a detailed article by journalist Katie Strang, in which Cornett, 18, described the emotional and personal fallout she faced after McAfee and others — including personalities from Barstool Sports — discussed and spread a baseless online rumor that referenced her indirectly but clearly.

On a Feb. 26 episode of The Pat McAfee Show featuring ESPN’s Adam Schefter, McAfee discussed the rumor without naming Cornett but provided enough context for many to identify her. According to Cornett, the impact was devastating: she withdrew from in-person classes, moved into emergency housing, and was inundated with harassing messages, including threats and calls for self-harm. Her family members were also targeted — her mother’s house was reportedly “swatted,” and her elderly grandfather received a disturbing call in the middle of the night.

Speaking to The Athletic, Cornett revealed she plans to pursue legal action against McAfee, ESPN, and potentially others involved in propagating the rumor:

“I would like people to be held accountable for what they’ve done,” she said. “You’re ruining my life by talking about it on your show for nothing but attention… I’m staying up until 5 in the morning, throwing up, not eating because I’m so anxious about what’s going to happen for the rest of my life.”

McAfee joined ESPN as an analyst in 2019 and signed an eight-year, $85 million deal in 2023 to bring The Pat McAfee Show to the network. The show has stirred controversy before, including McAfee’s previous apology for a derogatory remark made about WNBA star Caitlin Clark and his platforming of friend Aaron Rodgers, who made a baseless on-air implication about talk show host Jimmy Kimmel’s alleged ties to Jeffrey Epstein.

As the situation continues to unfold, McAfee's brief comments suggest he may be seeking to mitigate the fallout. Whether that includes further public statements, personal outreach, or legal resolution remains to be seen.