Mary Kate Cornett, a student at the University of Mississippi, found herself at the center of a false viral rumor in February. Despite denying the allegations of inappropriate behavior with her boyfriend’s father, the rumor persisted, causing significant distress to Cornett and her family.
Dave Portnoy, the founder of Barstool Sports, recently issued a public apology for the involvement of two personalities associated with his site in spreading the false rumor on social media. Portnoy expressed regret for the role his platform played in amplifying the baseless claims that had negatively impacted Cornett’s life.
In an interview with NBC News, Portnoy acknowledged the harm caused to Cornett and her family, stating his sadness over the situation and expressing a desire to make amends. Cornett, who had threatened legal action against those perpetuating the rumor, has been vocal about the damage done to her reputation and mental well-being.
The rumor, which falsely alleged an inappropriate relationship between Cornett and her boyfriend’s father, gained traction online before being further discussed by ESPN host Pat McAfee on his show. The rumor was then referenced by individuals associated with Barstool Sports on social media, leading to its wider dissemination.
Despite initially denying any wrongdoing by his site, Portnoy has since acknowledged the moral responsibility to address the situation. Discussions between legal representatives of both parties are ongoing, with a focus on potential mediation to resolve the matter.
Cornett’s legal team has emphasized the impact of cyberbullying on their client and the need for accountability in addressing the false claims. The apology from Portnoy signifies a step towards acknowledging the harm caused and working towards a resolution for all involved parties.
According to NBC News, a lawsuit for defamation has been filed. As noted in a previous report by PEOPLE, the freshman student faced receiving offensive and sexist messages after her phone number was exposed online. This led her to move to emergency housing and transition to online classes to evade inappropriate in-person remarks and unwanted photography. “It’s dreadful,” Cornett expressed to NBC News. “Having your life upended by individuals who are unaware of who you truly are is an incredibly distressing experience.” For more details, you can read the original article on People’s website.
