WWE’s Pat McAfee Torched for Airing False Claim About Teen Girl

Mary Kate Cornett, an 18-year-old freshman at the University of Mississippi, is preparing to file a lawsuit against ESPN and talk show host Pat McAfee—who also serves as an on-air personality for WWE—after a false rumor about her was discussed on McAfee’s nationally televised program.

The unsubstantiated claim, alleging Cornett had an affair with her boyfriend’s father, originated on social media platforms like YikYak and X (formerly Twitter) in February 2025. The rumor gained significant traction when it was mentioned during the Feb. 26 episode of “The Pat McAfee Show.” Although Cornett was not named directly, the details provided were specific enough for her to be identified.

Cornett asserts that the amplification of this rumor by McAfee and others led to severe personal repercussions, including harassment, doxxing, and a swatting incident at her mother's residence in Houston. As a result, she transitioned to online classes and relocated to emergency housing to escape the hostile environment on campus.

In response, Cornett's father, Justin, initiated a GoFundMe campaign aimed at establishing a foundation to support victims of defamatory cyberattacks. The campaign has garnered significant support, reflecting public concern over the impact of such incidents.

This situation draws parallels to a previous case involving McAfee and former NFL quarterback Brett Favre. In February 2023, Favre, a public figure, filed a defamation lawsuit against McAfee over comments related to Favre's alleged involvement in a Mississippi welfare scandal. The lawsuit was withdrawn in May 2023 after McAfee clarified his remarks, stating he had no personal knowledge of the case. Unlike Favre, Cornett was not a public figure prior to the dissemination of the false rumor; the media attention thrust her into the public eye, exacerbating the impact on her personal life.

As of April 2, 2025, neither McAfee, ESPN, nor WWE has publicly commented on the matter.

Sources: New York Post, People, The U.S. Sun, Chron, ESPN