Over the past 24 hours, Barstool Sports personalities have been publicly apologizing for amplifying false and damaging rumors about Ole Miss student Mary Kate Cornett. While Dave Portnoy and his team have taken a direct approach with their apologies, ESPN and Pat McAfee have notably failed to respond similarly. In this situation, Barstool has emerged as the more responsible party, while the silence from ESPN and McAfee signifies a lack of timely acknowledgment of their missteps.
How We Got Here
Barstool Sports personalities and McAfee, during his nationally aired ESPN show, discussed the unfounded rumors regarding Cornett. In response, Cornett’s father and legal representatives immediately criticized both Barstool and McAfee for disseminating potentially defamatory information, even threatening legal action. The situation escalated when Cornett herself took her story to NBC News, condemning these prominent figures for legitimizing the harmful rumors and highlighting the trauma she had endured as a result.
The fact that Barstool Sports took the first step towards making amends is surprising, especially given its storied history and ESPN’s reputation. This marks a sharp contrast to when ESPN dropped Barstool Van Talk after just one episode due to concerns about the brand’s toxicity, particularly surrounding Portnoy’s remarks about Sam Ponder and the broader Barstool controversies. Fast-forwarding to 2025, ESPN has its own divisive figure in McAfee, who has been involved in numerous controversies, including accusing executives of sabotage and issuing apologies regarding comments on Caitlin Clark, along with various conspiracy-themed episodes featuring Aaron Rodgers.
The Silence Has Been Deafening
Since the incident with Cornett, McAfee has yet to directly address his part in spreading these false rumors, while ESPN has maintained a stance of silence throughout the ordeal. The only instance of McAfee’s comment on the matter came during his Big Night Aht event in Pittsburgh, where he said he would “figure that out.”
“And for that whole thing that’s happening, I didn’t want to add any negativity as it was taking place like I did. We will try to figure that out and make some sort of silver lining in a very terrible situation. You can have that promise from me. It won’t be as impossible to be a fan of mine going forward.”
However, what remains missing is a direct apology from McAfee to Cornett. In stark contrast, Dave Portnoy and other Barstool Sports figures have been vocal in their apologies on Thursday and Friday.
Dave Portnoy: “I would apologize. I understand why the family is angry. I’m saddened that we played any part in this, and I wish we hadn’t.”
Kevin Clancy: “I’m genuinely sorry to Mary Kate Cornett, her boyfriend, family, and anyone negatively impacted by my poor decision that led to a bad piece of content surrounding the rumors about her.”
Jack McGuire: “In February, I made comments regarding the false rumors about Mary Kate Cornett’s alleged affair. I now understand those rumors are unfounded and want to apologize to her, her boyfriend, and their families. I will learn from this significant mistake.”
Charles Nicholas Longley: “I want to sincerely apologize for a post I made back in February about Mary Kate Cornett… I truly regret my actions and am sorry…”
Portnoy also acknowledged that while Barstool may weather potential legal repercussions, what transpired with Cornett was fundamentally “morally wrong.” Additionally, conversations likely occurred between the legal teams of ESPN, McAfee, Barstool, and Cornett, with Barstool’s coordinated apologies possibly serving to mitigate legal fallout. It remains to be seen whether similar discussions are underway for McAfee, and once resolved, we may finally hear a more pointed acknowledgment from him on his show.
For now, the narrative focuses on which organization is willing to confront its missteps and commit to improvement. While Portnoy has taken to network news for a public apology, McAfee’s comments at a live arena show were couched in a monologue about his past ‘cancellations’ and framed alongside a prior defamation lawsuit involving Brett Favre.
What Happens Next
As we move further from February 26, when jokes about Mary Kate Cornett’s situation circulated, and into the aftermath of her warnings about potential legal action the following day, it is remarkable that ESPN, a behemoth of sports media, has fallen behind Barstool Sports in public relations response. McAfee and ESPN may indeed have valid reasons for their cautious approach while legal matters are being navigated. Ultimately, McAfee could make a charitable donation in Cornett’s name, turning this unfortunate situation into something positive. However, in the eyes of fans, Barstool’s willingness to take responsibility and promise to do better starkly contrasts with ESPN and McAfee’s hesitancy.
This raises two significant questions: Does it signify a more mature Barstool and Portnoy, who are inching into mainstream sports culture? Or does it reflect poorly on McAfee and ESPN’s management of the fallout? McAfee has offered apologies to figures like Caitlin Clark, Jimmy Kimmel, and Raiders owner Mark Davis for remarks on his platform; why not extend the same acknowledgment to Mary Kate Cornett?
In conclusion, Barstool Sports has acted responsibly, publicly admitting its faults ahead of ESPN, presenting a significant moment in the evolution of the sports media landscape in 2025.
