Pat McAfee Spotted With Student He Apologized To Over False Rumor

Pat McAfee, the sports media personality, was seen on the Ole Miss sideline interacting with student Mary Kate Cornett on Saturday. The sighting occurred more than a year after Cornett and her family threatened legal action against those who shared a false rumor alleging a sexual relationship between her and her boyfriend's father. McAfee had discussed this unproven accusation on his ESPN show.

Cornett had publicly stated that McAfee had not contacted her to verify the story before he addressed it on air. McAfee later issued a public apology in July, acknowledging his show's role in the anguish caused to Cornett and her family. He explained that he wanted to speak with the family personally before addressing the matter publicly.

"I have since learned that the story was not true, and that my show played a role in the anguish caused to a great family and especially to a young woman, Mary Kate Cornett," McAfee stated on his show last July. "I think you all know from tuning into this program that I never want to be a source of negativity or contribute to another human’s suffering."

He met with Cornett and her family to offer his sincere apologies. "As a girl dad, I also was very thankful for the opportunity to let Mr. Cornett know that I was wildly regretful for the part that our show, our program, played in his daughter, Mary Kate’s, pain," he added.

McAfee was in Oxford, Mississippi, for ESPN College GameDay, which was filmed in the town. Cornett shared photos on social media indicating her attendance at the game between Ole Miss and LSU. Video footage captured McAfee and Cornett standing together before the game, and a fan photograph showed them in conversation. These interactions drew attention on social media due to their prior history.

Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy also expressed regret for his platform's involvement in spreading the rumor, stating in April that he would be upset if he were in Cornett's family's position and wished they hadn't published the story. "I’d be p***ed if I was the family too. I’d like to think we’re better than publishing fake rumors of people not in the public eye regardless of how viral the story was," Portnoy said.