Katie Strang's story about Mary Kate Cornett topped The Athletic's readership in 2025, detailing how the Ole Miss student's life was upended by false rumors amplified on major sports media platforms.
"They were satisfied, Pat was satisfied, I was happy with Pat's on-air apology, and we move on."
"Personally, professionally, and every which way, I am genuinely sorry."
According to NBC’s Tom Llamas, Portnoy has “worked to up Barstool’s editorial standards” in the aftermath.
"Morally, we were wrong."
"It won't be as impossible to be a fan of mine going forward."
"Why is that on ESPN? How does that fit on ESPN?"
"Weirdly, I think we should be getting praised. We said no!"
"I don't think these boys know what they're doing to people."
Ole Miss student Mary Kate Cornett says she was the victim of false rumors on social media amplified most prominently by Pat McAfee.
"I have been the victim of a deliberate and coordinated cyberattack spreading categorically false and defamatory information."