In a gripping turn of events, Dave Portnoy, the founder of Barstool Sports, has publicly lamented his company’s inadvertent role in spreading a damaging rumor about Mary Kate Cornett, an unsuspecting freshman at Ole Miss University.

At just 18 years old, Cornett became the target of a vicious online harassment campaign stemming from baseless gossip that falsely implicated her in scandalous behavior, leading to a wave of cyberbullying against her. In her first public appearance addressing the chaos, Cornett announced her readiness to take legal action against several platforms, including The Pat McAfee Show and Barstool Sports, that contributed to the disinformation.

Portnoy didn't hold back in expressing his regret, stating, ‘It’s a vicious rumor. I’m sad, and I wish we didn’t play any part in it.’ He admitted to NBC News that the experience made him feel nauseous, acknowledging a moral misstep on Barstool's part and emphasizing, ‘I was bragging that morally I thought we were right.’

Cornett's family is reportedly pursuing either litigation or mediation, with Portnoy opting for mediation in hopes of resolving the matter amicably. The attorney representing Cornett has stated that she believes her client has a solid foundation for a defamation case, reflecting the gravity of the harassment that Cornett and her family endured.

The fallout of this incident doesn’t end with Portnoy. Pat McAfee has also recently expressed remorse for his role in promoting the rumor during a segment of his nationally televised show. He addressed his audience, stating, ‘I never ever want to be a part of anything negative in anybody’s life.’ McAfee vowed to strive for a positive outcome amidst the dark circumstances.

This incident, which took root in late February when unfounded rumors began circulating on social media, highlights the dangers of false information and its catastrophic effects on individuals’ lives. Cornett, a regular college student with no public notoriety, became embroiled in a scandal that no one could have foreseen. As the legal proceedings unfold, both Barstool Sports and McAfee's show are left to reckon with the repercussions of their involvement.