Ole Miss Student Accused of Sleeping With Boyfriend’s Dad Slams Claims as 'Defamatory Cyberattack’

A statement attributed to Mary Kate Cornett has been released amid the ongoing social media attention surrounding what’s alleged to be a coordinated cyberattack.

As you may or may not have seen on X and beyond in recent days, the controversy in question stems from claims that Cornett, said to be a student at the University of Mississippi (more commonly referred to as Ole Miss), had been engaged in a relationship with her boyfriend’s father. Though it wasn’t immediately clear from where such claims originated, they spread quickly on social media, leading to (at least according to the newly released statement) the family being forced to retain legal representation while also seeking help from local law enforcement and the FBI.

“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 cyberattack,” reads a message shared to a Facebook account operated by Justin Cornett, alleged to be the student’s father, on Thursday. “She has been publicly doxed and our family has been forced to take protective measures to ensure her safety.”

According to the statement, which has since been captured via screenshot and shared on X and elsewhere, the family believes the alleged attack began as a “fraternity prank” before spinning “out of control.”

Also included in the FB post were a link to a GoFundMe and a statement attributed to Mary Kate herself, as well as acknowledgment of a memecoin “scam” using the student's likeness. In the statement, Mary Kate said that “edited screenshots” and “fake AI-generated videos” were used as part of a larger effort aimed at defaming her. Antonio Brown and Pat McAfee are also called out in the statement for “spreading outlandish conjecture,” as are “influencers with apparent ties to Barstool Sports.”

Furthermore, per the statement, the Kappa Delta Sorority member’s safety is now “at risk” after the leaking of personal contact information.

“The pain and heartbreak is immense,” reads the statement. “These lies have affected my family, my friends, my social organizations, and school administrators. Ultimately, I have confidence we will get through this and ask for any and all support while our family and others affected slowly heal. I pray for the strength and courage to use this unwanted attention as a platform to help others whose lives have been turned upside down in similar circumstances.”

As of this writing, the GoFundMe has raised over $20,000 of its $50,000 goal. According to the listing, and echoed in the statements attributed to the family on Thursday, is that all proceeds from the fundraiser will go toward the forming of a foundation designed to offer assistance to victims of “similar defamatory cyberattacks.”

When reached for comment by Complex, a rep for the Oxford Police Department confirmed that the agency had taken a report from the Cornett family. The department also confirmed that an investigation remained ongoing.

Complex has also reached out to GoFundMe and the University of Mississippi for comment. This story may be updated.

After first catching fire on social media, the viral story has since amassed coverage from a variety of publications—including regional outlet The Clarion-Ledger and national tabloid TMZ. The latter, as seen here, reported Thursday that they had spoken with the student’s parents, as well as obtained a copy of the aforementioned police report.

Meanwhile, a statement claimed to be from the student's boyfriend has also surfaced. Per The New York Post, the statement seemingly sees the boyfriend, named in the report as Evan Solis, slamming the claims circulating on social media as “unequivocally false.” It wasn't immediately clear whether the IG account the statement originated from does indeed belong to the boyfriend, though it's worth noting that the account in question is following a user claiming to be Mary Kate.