THE Ole Miss student at the center of a disturbing sex claim is determined to make sick internet rumor-spreading trolls pay for their actions.
Mary Kate Cornett, 18, has been thrown into the middle of a cyber storm after online posts claimed she was sleeping with the father of her boyfriend, Evan Solis.
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Her own dad, Justin, responded quickly as the allegations spread but ESPN host Pat McAfee and former NFL player Antonio Brown were drawn into the controversy after alluding to the shocking story.
Mary Kate and Evan, University of Mississippi freshmen, were also forced to deny the claims on Instagram before the authorities were called in.
The FBI and local police are trying to hunt down the people responsible for the initial posts.
“My family has been senselessly targeted,” Justin told The U.S. Sun . “Their safety is my paramount concern.”
The family has brought in Arizona-based lawyer Monica Uddin, who stressed the importance of Mary Kate fighting for her rights and holding the people responsible accountable.
Uddin bemoaned the worrying trend of social media abuse and told The U.S. Sun that the despicable incident could follow the student around for life unless she made a stand now.
“A collection of people has ruined her life. Anytime anyone looks her up, they will find this story and see the suggestive pictures. This is something that’ll follow her forever,” Uddin added.
“She’s got to set the record straight, and this shouldn’t happen. People shouldn’t do this to other people.”
Uddin confirmed an investigation was “active” but could not give a precise timeline.
However, she stressed that her legal team, in conjunction with the police, will stop at nothing to bring those responsible firmly to account.
“You can’t ruin innocent people’s reputations with impunity,” warned the attorney.
When the storm erupted at the end of last month, a screenshot of a Snapchat message was shared on X, alleging that the two individuals went out for dinner after a basketball game and engaged in an affair.
In response, dad Justin issued a staunch defense of his daughter.
“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,” he wrote.
“She has been publicly doxed, and our family has been forced to take protective measures to ensure her safety.”
The statement called out McAfee, Brown, and Barstool Sports for allegedly sharing the claims.
McAfee addressed the rumor on his show days later, during an interview with ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter.
ESPN declined to comment when contacted by The New York Post .
Meanwhile, Barstool Sports CEO Dave Portnoy also issued a statement to the same publication, claiming his editors “instinctively decided to avoid this story as it seemed there was a high likelihood it could have been fabricated.”
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“Barstool Sports did not mention or spread this rumor on any of our Barstool-owned channels as far as I know,” added Portnoy.
Boyfriend Evan said on Instagram that the posts had been “extremely difficult for everyone in my life.”
He said the rumors were “unbelievable” and “horrendously false.”
The family, meanwhile, has established a GoFundMe page which has already amassed over $25,000.
“All of the proceeds from this fundraiser will be used to provide seed capital establishing a foundation focused on helping innocent victims of similar defamatory cyber attacks,” wrote Mary Kate.
“Zero money raised here will be used for personal purposes.”
Justin Cornett told The U.S. Sun his family has been badly affected by the situation surrounding his daughterFaceobook/Justin Cornett
