Ole Miss Student At Center Of Viral Rumors Speaks Out: “A Deliberate And Coordinated Cyberattack”

Clearing her name.

If you’ve been on X (Twitter) the past couple of days, or watched the Pat McAfee Show, you’re no doubt familiar with the viral rumors out of Ole Miss that have taken over the internet.

Long story short, a Snapchat screenshot went insanely viral claiming that a student named Mary Kate Cornett had hooked up with the father of her boyfriend, and almost instantly social media was flooded with memes and jokes. People were comparing the dad to Bill Belichick, sending the boyfriend money on Venmo, and sharing photos of both Cornett and the dad.

Mary Kate Cornett | Ole Miss pic.twitter.com/po65ojquXV

— Campus Babes (@Thecampushottie) February 25, 2025

Someone even created a “Mary Kate Cornett” meme coin to capitalize on the insanely viral trending topic, because of course they did.

But it didn’t stop there. Cornett’s phone number was posted on social media, as well as screenshots of other…well, unsavory messages claiming to be from Cornett.

The online harassment got so bad that it was reported that she would be transferring from Ole Miss, and in the meantime her social media accounts, as well as those of her Kappa Delta Sorority, were locked down and made private.

Yesterday, Pat McAfee even joked about the situation while trying to awkwardly break the news to Adam Schefter:

What's going on at Ole Miss #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/48ed4tI3ey

— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) February 26, 2025

But in what should come as no surprise, Cornett isn’t exactly thrilled about the unwanted attention she’s receiving – and she’s vowing to fight back.

In a post to social media, her dad Justin Cornett issued a statement addressing the rumors around her daughter, saying that the family suspected it started as a “fraternity prank that has mushroomed out of control” but vowing to find the perpetrators behind it:

“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.

We have filed police reports with local law enforcement in Oxford and the University of Mississippi campus police. 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.

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. Somehow, someway, we will find a way to turn this unfortunate situation into a positive outcome for future victims like my daughter.”

And Cornett herself also addressed the harassment, revealing that she had received “thousands” of phone calls since her number was leaked and has been forced to seek “alternative living arrangements” due to the rumors:

“Hello, this is Mary Kate Cornett. I am a student and member of Kappa Delta Sorority at the University of Mississippi.

I have been the victim of a deliberate and coordinated cyberattack spreading categorically false and defamatory information. 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.

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. Most alarmingly, my personal contact information has been doxed and illegally shared publicly, putting my personal safety at risk.

I have received thousands of harassing calls and texts of a sick and demented nature, some of which suggest I even take my own life.

The unwanted attention garnered here rose to the number one trending topic on X in the US and even associated me with an apparent meme coin using my name, image and likeness without my permission. To be clear, we have zero affiliation with this scam and have not participated nor know anyone who has benefited in any capacity from it whatsoever.

The viral nature of these wholly untrue allegations have forced me to retain legal counsel, forensic data investigators, and seek alternative education/living arrangements while we find those responsible for these utterly false accusations, which we will. We have 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.

While our family has been blessed with resources to pursue the truth and defend our name via the legal system, others are not so fortunate. As such, my father has started a Gofund me where 100% of the Proceeds 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.

My heart breaks for the victims of defamatory cyber attacks and public doxing like this. The pain and heartbreak is immense. These lies have affected my family, my friends, my social organizations and school administrators. Ultimately, I have confidence we will get through this and ask for any and all support while our family and others affected slowly heal. I pray for the strength and courage to use this unwanted attention as a platform to help others whose lives have been turned upside down in similar circumstances.”

Mary Kate and her family released a statement on facebook pic.twitter.com/dtNwMzRHlM

— Ole Miss Muse (@OleMissMuse1) February 27, 2025