Pat McAfee’s Controversial Remarks Spark Legal Action from Ole Miss Student
Prominent sports commentator Pat McAfee is facing potential legal repercussions following controversial comments regarding Mary Kate Cornett, a student at the University of Mississippi. Cornett has announced her intention to pursue legal action against McAfee after she found herself at the center of an online scandal that surged in popularity on February 26, 2025, related to her reported involvement with her boyfriend’s father.
The Controversy Unfolds on The Pat McAfee Show
On the same day that Cornett began trending on social media platform X, McAfee addressed the situation during an episode of his podcast, The Pat McAfee Show, which is also broadcast live on ESPN. He discussed the narrative swirling around Cornett, noting that it had “captivated the internet.” While he refrained from mentioning her name directly, he described the situation with attention-grabbing phrasing:
“Some Ole Miss frat bro, k? Had a K-D (Kappa Delta) girlfriend. At this exact moment, this is what is being reported by … everybody on the internet: Dad had s*x with son’s girlfriend.”
The Response from Podcast Guests
As McAfee elaborated on the scandal, fellow guest Adam Schefter appeared visibly uncomfortable with the discussion and attempted to divert it by questioning the situation of Jaxson Dart, an Ole Miss Rebels quarterback implicated in the narrative. Despite his name not being mentioned, McAfee continued his commentary with humor reminiscent of a sports analysis segment:
“We’re just wondering. His dad … We’re just trying to combine evaluate …,” he said.
Mary Kate Cornett’s Reaction to the Fallout
The storyline regarding Mary Kate Cornett initially originated from a viral post on X by user @MAGAgeddon on February 26, 2025. The post alleged that Cornett had a liaison with the father of her boyfriend, Evan, who reportedly remained in a relationship with her despite the claims. The tweet included a screenshot of a Snapchat message in which Cornett discussed attending a basketball game with Evan’s father, Erik Solis, suggesting that they had spent time together following her academic commitments.
According to rumors, the two were seen socializing later that evening, leading to speculations about their relationship. The exposé on social media garnered over 1.5 million views and claimed that Solis had a history of infidelity, which Cornett allegedly became aware of. Reports suggested that his wife was contemplating leaving him for reasons unrelated to Cornett.
Legal Action and Impact on Cornett’s Life
In light of the distress caused by McAfee’s comments and the subsequent internet backlash, Mary Kate Cornett announced on April 1, 2025, her plans to sue both Pat McAfee and ESPN. In her statement to The Athletic, she expressed her frustration:
“I would like people to be held accountable for what they’ve done. 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 stated.
Cornett has reportedly enlisted the services of Houston attorney Monica Uddin to support her legal endeavors. She shared the emotional toll of the situation, citing that she cannot navigate campus life without facing derogatory remarks and has had to move into emergency accommodations while switching to online courses as a preventive measure.
The tumult surrounding this incident underscores the powerful intersection of social media, public figures, and personal lives, illustrating the potential for significant repercussions arising from seemingly casual remarks made in a public forum.