Pat McAfee has never shied away from pushing the envelope. In fact, that’s exactly what’s helped him build his brand—brick by brick. However, that exact strategy is what’s dragged him into hot water this time…

But before we get to that, let’s look at what exactly happened. Currently caught in the eye of the storm—as a victim of a “deliberate and coordinated” online harassment campaign—is Ole Miss’ Kappa Delta Sorority member Mary Kate Cornett. What began as a social media rumor by several anonymous accounts on X about the 18-year-old freshman having an affair with her boyfriend’s father, caught national attention, thanks to McAfee, former NFL wide receiver Antonio Brown, and Barstool Sports.

While Barstool Sports’ Kevin “KFC” Clancy discussed the controversy on his social media account, Brown took it up a notch by sharing memes on the matter. McAfee, on the other hand, chose to discuss the scandal in an interview with ESPN’s Adam Schefter, as per TMZ. As expected, this didn’t go down well. And, soon after, the Cornett family hit back with a lengthy Facebook post…

On February 27, Mary Kate’s father Justin Cornett’s message began, “By now, some of you know my daughter, Mary Kate Cornett, has been the subject of a totally and categorically false, malicious, organized and defamatory cyber attack. She has been publicly doxed and our family has been forced to take protective measures to ensure her safety.”

“While our family has the resources to defend ourselves, many other victims of similar attacks do not. Accordingly, we have decided to start a Gofund me whose goal is to provide seed capital towards starting a new foundation set up to provide much needed assistance to less fortunate targets of cybercrime. I personally fully committ and guarantee 100% of anything raised will go to help those that haven’t been as blessed as our family,” the update further read, as Cornett then described the exact protective measures he’s taking.

“We have filed police reports with local law enforcement in Oxford, the University of Mississippi campus police and the FBI. 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 my family be targeted and am fully committed to pursuing all criminal and civil actions available. To those responsible, we will find you.”

Meanwhile, Mary Kate also revealed the tough ordeal she’s going through in the same update, and even slammed McAfee and others. “Not to be outdone by the Bots, Irresponsible independent social media influencers with apparent ties to Barstool Sports and even major public figures like Antonio Brown and Pat McAfee who hosts ESPN’s College Game Day have shared these utter and complete lies with zero interest in the truth, but instead spreading outlandish conjecture. No one affiliated with these organizations ever reached out to us for comment.”

Heartbreakingly, the young student’s personal information has also been leaked online, that even led to “thousands of harassing calls and texts of a sick and demented nature, some of which suggest I even take my own life”. But that’s not all, as even Cornett’s boyfriend had to come forward to clarify the messy and distasteful rumors…

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“The unbelievable rumors about my family and Mary Kate’s are unacceptable and need to be addressed,” part of his statement on Instagram read.

Meanwhile, ESPN has declined to comment on the matter, while Barstool Sports CEO Dave Portnoy has denied any involvement in helping spread the rumor. Looks like McAfee has dragged the network in quite the mud, amid Aaron Rodgers’ return.

Pat McAfee has stirred the pot

It’s safe to say that ESPN now finds itself in a precarious position. The network, which once prided itself on a strictly sports-first approach, has increasingly blurred the line between entertainment and news, thanks to personalities like McAfee.

His show, which ESPN brought on in a high-profile move to inject some unpredictability into its programming, has indeed done just that. But at what cost? With McAfee facing the heat and ESPN being dragged into a national controversy, it’s fair to ask whether the network is now paying the price for giving him such a long leash.

All of this comes amid swirling speculation about another high-profile figure tied to McAfee’s orbit—Aaron Rodgers. The New York Jets quarterback, a recurring guest on The Pat McAfee Show, has been a lightning rod for controversy himself, particularly in recent years. McAfee’s platform has given Rodgers a space to sound off on everything from COVID conspiracies to his football future. And now, the rumor mill is turning again.

On Wednesday, McAfee suggested that the Los Angeles Rams might be the team Rodgers has his eye on next. “Aaron, from our sources, currently out of [the] country, when [he] gets back, will join the program,” McAfee teased. “I did ask about [the] Rams situation to our sources. Open to everything, attached to nothing. Big fan of Sean McVay, though.” While Rodgers’ future remains up in the air, one thing is certain—his next appearance on McAfee’s show will be a must-watch.

As this saga continues to unfold, the spotlight on McAfee has never been brighter. His rapid ascent in the sports media world has been fueled by his brash, no-holds-barred style, but this latest controversy serves as a stark reminder of the risks that come with it.