We will try to figure that out” - Pat McAfee seemingly addresses Ole Miss college student Mary Kate Cornett potential lawsuit scandal

Back in February, Pat McAfee spoke about the internet rumour during his show—alleging a college student had an affair with her boyfriend’s dad. This student later addressed the incident in an April 1 interview with The Athletic, calling out McAfee for airing the gossip on his national platform, especially since it had zero relevance to sports.

Facing growing scrutiny, Pat McAfee indirectly referenced the controversy involving the Ole Miss student who has accused him of causing reputational harm by amplifying a personal rumour.

Though McAfee, 37, didn’t drop names during his “Big Night Aht” show in Pittsburgh on Wednesday, April 9, his reference to a “current situation” was widely interpreted as a response to the comments he made in February, where he spoke on an unverified claim involving Mary Kate Cornett.

Pat Mcafee's reference to the current situation:

“I have a lot of people saying that I should be sued,” McAfee shared.

“I want to say this: I never, ever want to be a part of anything negative in anybody’s life, ever. That is not what I want to do.”

Pat McAfee made it clear that his legal team had his back, not just any lawyers, but Pittsburgh lawyers. He mentioned he’d helped fund their suite and described them as a crew that shares his philosophy,

“They have the same mindset as me, empathy but understanding reality.

He also shared that,

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 in a very terrible situation. You can have that promise from me. It won’t be as impossible to be a fan of mine going forward.” concluded McAfee

In her conversation with The Athletic, Mary Kate Cornett described the circulating rumor as “categorically false,” expressing deep frustration toward McAfee and other commentators. She emphasized the need for accountability in how the media handles such personal matters.

“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,” she shared.

In a conversation with NBC Nightly published on April 2, Cornett revealed that prior to Pat McAfee’s viral remarks, he

“never once reached out to ask me if this was true or for me to give any sort of statement to him.”

“I thought it was absolutely ridiculous that an ESPN sports broadcaster would be talking about a 19-year-old girl’s ‘s** scandal’ that was completely false,” she reiterated.

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After the rumors gained traction, Cornett took her nameplate down from her dorm room, but the harassment didn’t stop there. She began receiving threatening messages slid under her door. Campus police reportedly warned her she had become a target. She was soon relocated to emergency housing and transitioned to online classes.

Meanwhile, in a disturbing turn, Houston police arrived at her mother's home with weapons drawn on February 27. The incident was later identified as a case of "swatting". The city’s homicide unit had responded, according to surveillance video and a police report obtained by The Athletic.

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