Imagine waking up and finding out the entire internet is talking about you. Not for a good reason. For something you didn't even do. That’s basically what happened to Mary Kate Cornett, a freshman at the University of Mississippi whose life was flipped upside down by a viral lie in early 2025. It started as a whisper on an anonymous app and ended with her being mentioned on one of the biggest sports talk shows in the country.
The internet is a wild place. It’s fast. Often, it’s also very wrong.
When the Mary Kate Cornett GoFundMe first popped up, people were confused. Was it for legal fees? Was it for her to move? There were so many rumors flying around that the truth got buried under a mountain of clickbait and social media "takes." Honestly, the reality of the situation is much more serious than a simple "drama" story. It’s a cautionary tale about how easily a digital mob can form and the devastating impact it has on real people.
The Night the Internet Broke a Student's Life
It all kicked off on YikYak, which is basically an anonymous playground for college students to post gossip. A rumor started circulating that Mary Kate had been involved in a scandalous affair with her boyfriend’s father. It was salacious. It was nasty.
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And it was completely fake.
The problem? It didn't stay on YikYak. It migrated to X (formerly Twitter) and caught the attention of some massive personalities. Most notably, Pat McAfee discussed the "alleged" situation on The Pat McAfee Show on ESPN. Even though he used the word "allegedly" and didn't initially name her, the breadcrumbs were there. His "stooges" and millions of followers did the rest of the math.
Suddenly, this 18-year-old business major wasn't just a student anymore. She was a trending topic. Her phone number was leaked. She was being "swatted"—a terrifying and dangerous prank where people call the police and report a fake crime so a SWAT team shows up at your house. Her mother’s home in Houston was actually raided by police because of one of these fake reports.
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Why the Mary Kate Cornett GoFundMe Was Actually Created
When things get this bad, you need help. But the Mary Kate Cornett GoFundMe wasn't actually about paying for her own personal bills or vacations. Her father, Justin Cornett, was very clear about that from the jump.
The family is actually quite well-off. They didn't need the money for their own lawyers. Instead, they wanted to turn this nightmare into something that could help other people who don't have the resources they do. The fundraiser was set up to provide "seed capital" for a foundation.
- 100% of proceeds were pledged to help victims of cyberbullying and doxxing.
- The goal was to provide legal and forensic support for people whose lives are ruined by viral lies.
- It served as a public stance against "irresponsible social media influencers."
It’s kinda rare to see a family in the middle of a crisis think about others, but that was their stated mission. They raised over $26,000 in a relatively short amount of time. People wanted to support her, not just because they felt bad, but because they were fed up with the "burn it all down" culture of the internet.
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The Legal Battle: Taking on the Giants
Mary Kate didn't just hide in her room—though she did have to move to emergency housing and switch to online classes because the harassment on campus was so bad. People were literally taking pictures of her in public and screaming insults.
She eventually hired AZA Law to represent her. They aren't playing around. Her legal team has been very vocal that using the word "allegedly" or not naming someone directly isn't a "get out of jail free" card when you've clearly pointed a finger at a private citizen.
They are looking at defamation and cyberbullying. It’s a tough road. Public figures like McAfee have big legal teams and "entertainment" defenses, but Mary Kate wasn't a public figure until they made her one. That distinction is a huge deal in the legal world.
Actionable Steps for Navigating Digital Risks
What happened to Mary Kate could, theoretically, happen to anyone. The digital world is increasingly volatile. If you find yourself or someone you know in the crosshairs of a viral situation, here is what experts suggest doing:
- Document Everything. Screenshots are your best friend. Don't just delete the mean messages; save them as evidence before they disappear or get edited.
- Lock Down Privacy. If a rumor starts, set all social media to private immediately. Change your phone number if it’s been leaked.
- Involve the Authorities. Doxxing and swatting are crimes. The Cornett family involved the FBI and local police early on, which is essential for a paper trail.
- Seek Professional Counsel. If a major platform or "influencer" is involved, don't try to "ratio" them back. Get a lawyer who understands digital defamation.
- Support Organizations. If you want to help, look for foundations—like the one the Cornetts aimed to start—that provide resources for victims of non-consensual viral fame.
The Mary Kate Cornett GoFundMe wasn't just a pot of money. It was a signal that the era of "anything goes" on social media might be hitting a legal wall. While the internet moves on to the next trend in five minutes, the people left in the wake of a viral lie often have to spend years cleaning up the mess. If you're following this case, keep an eye on the legal filings; they’ll likely set a precedent for how much "alleged" gossip a talk show host can legally get away with.