Pat McAfee apologized to Miss Ole's student Mary Kate Cornett on Wednesday's “Pat McAfee Show.”
Rumors involved false claims involving Cornett's romantic life, starting with anonymous messaging app Yikyak, then entering the world of X and later sports talk, including posts by Barstool personality KFC Barstool and Jack Mac, ESPN Radio Barstool was discussed at the ESPN Radio host of St. Louis and mentioned on McAfee's show.
“Since then, I learned that this story is incorrect, and my show has played a role in the pain caused by a great family, especially for young woman Mary Kate Cornett.”
In an interview sports In April, Connet, then 18, said there was evil news under the door of her dormitory room after the rumor took off. Campus police told her she was a target, she switched to online courses and moved to an emergency housing.
sports Cornet and her attorney have been contacted for comment on McCaffe's statement.
She told sports She received a tainted voicemail and someone created a cryptocurrency monument with her name attached. Police appear at Connette's mother's home, her boyfriend faces online bullying, and her grandfather receives a sarcastic call late at night.
“I want people to be responsible for what they do,” Cornett said in April. “You ruined my life by talking about it on the show, but besides paying attention, I stayed up all night until every night at 5pm, every night, vomiting, not eating because I’m about what happens to the rest of my life.”
Weeks after the first discussion of the rumor, McAfee hinted at a live event in Pittsburgh, saying he “don't want to add more negative emotions when it happens” and would try to “do some kind of silver medal in a very terrible situation.” KFC Barstool, Jack Mac and Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy also apologized for the situation.
At the time, McAfee rejected Cornett's name. He said Wednesday he waited for a detailed discussion until he could speak directly with Cornett and her family.
“I recently went to meet Mary Kate and her family and I had the opportunity to sincerely apologize to them and admit that what I said to Mary Kate is based solely on what others say on the internet, or previously reported by others, that we have no personal knowledge of Mary Kate or her personal life.”
McAfee's performance and its guests are known for pushing boundaries and are proud provocateurs. Still, McCafee apologized for language in the past, such as when he described WNBA player Caitlin Clark as a “white bitch.” The opening of his show includes a disclaimer, namely, “this was supposed to be comedy message” and “the views expressed in this show do not necessarily reflect the beliefs of peers, bosses or ESPNs.”
“I deeply regret the pain caused,” McCaffe said of Connet on Wednesday. “I hate watching our show in part of our interview and reading about it. I hope this can be something we all learn from moving forward. I know of course we have.”
(Photo: Kirby Lee/Imagn Image)