‘Helpless’: 18-year-old student Mary Kate Cornett’s life up-ended by sick viral rumour

An 18-year-old student says she is the “victim of a co-ordinated cyber attack” over a sick rumour that spread like wildfire across social media.

An 18-year-old University of Mississippi student says she is the “victim of a deliberate and co-ordinated cyber attack” over a sick viral rumour that she had slept with her boyfriend’s father.

Ole Miss student Mary Kate Cornett’s name and image began trending online earlier this week, along with boyfriend Evan Solis, due to the false narrative — which she said was spread by public figures including ESPN host Pat McAfee, former NFL player Antonio Brown and Barstool Sports.

Ms Cornett raced to her boyfriend’s home after she learned the couple was at the centre of the viral posts, according to a police report she filed that was obtained by TMZ.

Mary Kate Cornett and her boyfriend Evan Solis. Picture: Facebook

In the police report, Ms Cornett says she was at a salon in Oxford when she first found out, and that she is the victim of cyberstalking and harassment.

Her parents, Leslie and Justin Cornett, flew from Houston to Mississippi to be with their daughter.

“We felt absolutely helpless,” Mr Cornett told TMZ, emphasising they want to keep their daughter safe amid what’s been a difficult time for the family.

Mrs Cornett added that her daughter was treated “like she wasn’t a human being” online.

The 18-year-old was at the centre of a sick viral rumour. Picture: Instagram

Ms Cornett and Mr Solis, a former high school football player, have both denied the rumours in separate statements on their Instagram pages.

“These past couple of days have been extremely difficult for everyone in my life,” Mr Solis wrote.

“The unbelievable rumours about my family and Mary Kate’s are unacceptable and need to be addressed. The accusations are unequivocally false. Also, my faith in my father and our relationship is unwavering. He is wholly innocent and being unfairly slandered with no opportunity to speak on his own behalf prior to the horrendously false statements.”

Mr Cornett also denied the allegations in a separate post on Facebook and tagged his wife and daughter.

He denounced the “categorically false, malicious, organised and defamatory cyber attack”. “She has been publicly doxed and our family has been forced to take protective measures to ensure her safety,” he wrote.

Mr Solis slammed people spreading the ‘outrageous’ lies. Picture: Instagram

“I have engaged a highly capable forensic data private investigation team to find the perpetrators. At this stage, we suspect this is some sort of fraternity prank that has mushroomed out of control. I refuse to let me family be targeted and am fully committed to pursuing all criminal and civil actions available. To those responsible, we will find you.”

In a GoFundMe page created in her name by her father, Ms Cornett said she filed reports with University of Mississippi campus police, local police and the FBI.

“Rest assured, all criminal charges and civil remedies will be pursued vigorously,” she said, adding the situation led her to seek “alternative education/living arrangements”.

Ms Cornett explained that she is “the victim of a deliberate and co-ordinated cyber attack spreading categorically false and defamatory information”.

She alleged that “partially and wholly edited screenshots, fake AI generated videos and manipulated photographs have been promoted by irresponsible social media participants and amplified by thousands of fake accounts”.

Ms Cornett fears for her safety. Picture: Instagram

Barstool Sports employee KFC discussed the scandal on his personal social media accounts and McAfee brought up the alleged accusations in an interview with Adam Schefter this week.

Brown also weighed in on the situation, sharing an image on his X account of comedian Shane Gillis and his girlfriend, Grace Brassel, writing, “Mary Kate Cornett & her Boyfriends Dad.”

“No one affiliated with these organisations ever reached out to us for comment,” Ms Cornett said of the public figures and companies she named.

“Most alarmingly, my personal contact information has been doxed illegally shared publicly, putting my personal safety at risk. Many notes sent suggest I even take my own life.”

Justin and Mary Williamson Cornett. Picture: Facebook

Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy denied the accusations.

“Barstool Sports did not mention or spread this rumour on any of our Barstool owned channels as far as I know,” Portnoy said. “Our editors instinctively made the decision to avoid this story as it seemed there was a high likelihood it could have been fabricated. If I’m wrong about that I’m happy to see where it was posted and revisit.”

Regarding KFC’s video, Portnoy said, “We do not control our employees’ personal socials. Whatever they post on their own is their own stuff.”

ESPN declined to comment.

Ms Cornett said 100 per cent of the proceeds from her GoFundMe “will be used to provide seed capital establishing a foundation focused on helping innocent victims of similar defamatory cyber attacks”.

“Zero money raised here will be used for personal purposes,” she said.

This article originally appeared on NY Post and was reproduced with permission

Originally published as ‘Helpless’: 18-year-old student Mary Kate Cornett’s life up-ended by sick viral rumour