A Rumor, a Meme Coin, and Death Threats
On February 26, 2025, University of Mississippi student Mary Kate Cornett woke up to find her name trending on X. An unverified Snapchat message alleged she had been involved in an affair with her boyfriend's father, Erik Solis. Within 48 hours, she had received thousands of harassing calls, death threats telling her to kill herself, AI-generated fake videos of her, and a cryptocurrency token bearing her name that peaked at a $700,000 market cap before crashing.
She says the entire story is false.
How It Spread
The rumor originated from a group of anonymous Twitter accounts called the "SEC Burnerverse" — college-age men at Southeastern Conference schools who use anonymous accounts to spread campus gossip. One unverified Snapchat screenshot was all it took. Within hours, major accounts amplified it. Pat McAfee discussed it. Barstool Sports picked it up. The hashtag trended nationally.
Nobody verified the claim. Nobody contacted Cornett before broadcasting it to millions.
Rolling Stone: Ole Miss Student Says False Rumors Sparked Death Threats
The Meme Coin
Someone — nobody has identified who — launched a cryptocurrency meme coin using Cornett's name and likeness. The coin peaked at over $700,000 in market cap before collapsing. Someone profited from her humiliation.
This is the internet economy in 2025: a false rumor about a college student can be tokenized and traded before she even has a chance to respond.
Her Statement
Cornett released a statement through her family:
She reported being doxxed — her personal phone number and address shared publicly — and receiving "thousands of harassing calls and texts of a sick and demented nature, some of which suggest I even take my own life."
She announced intentions to pursue legal action against McAfee, ESPN, and others who amplified the rumor.
NBC News: College Student Who Became Subject of Viral Rumor Says It Has "Ruined" Her Life
The Pattern
No verification. No contact with the subject. No consequences for the amplifiers. Death threats for the target. And someone makes money.
This is not a social media failure. This is social media working exactly as designed. Engagement rewards speed over accuracy, outrage over truth, and spectacle over human beings. Mary Kate Cornett is not the first person to have her life destroyed by a viral lie. She will not be the last.
The only unusual part is the meme coin. And even that is probably coming for all of us eventually.
Last edited: