Under Fire for Scandalous Ole Miss Remarks, Pat McAfee Shares Emotional Message for Dad’s Special Day

Pat McAfee has made sure he never forgets his life before fame. Growing up in poverty in a “poor, 100 sq. ft. house” it wasn’t often that life felt worthwhile. Yet, if there was one person who taught him to dream big, it was Tim McAfee, his father. One fine evening, though, Tim couldn’t believe his eyes…

It was a day most would consider normal. However, in the McAfee household, a dark cloud had loomed over. As Pat casually strolled into the house, his father’s eyes fell on his son’s ears. There, glinting in the light, was a stud that felt like a knife had jammed itself in Tim’s heart. For a week the father didn’t talk to his younger son. He’d deliberately pretend like he didn’t see the young boy, and pass him by in the crammed space. Now, years later, that’s a fond memory often discussed during dinner table conversations. And the strict father, McAfee grew up with, slowly turned into his best friend.

Today, the broadcaster understands Tim. He understands why his father would leave at the crack of dawn and return home at 5 in the evening—driving trucks and selling cabinets. Today, he appreciates those 10 long hours his father would spend with him in his high school field practicing football on the weekend. “I was just kicking and he was throwing out his shoulder and shagging balls for me,” the retired NFL player once revealed. Today, he understands what he is, is partly because of his father.

“The thing he pushed me the most about was, ‘If you want something, you can have anything in the world.  You just have to work for it.’  He’s been the initiator of my work ethic, the initiator behind my confidence – that I can accomplish anything I want in this world, if I want to work for it. He’s always been the guy who said to me, ‘If you’re not working and getting better, the person who wants your job is.’  That’s how I approached things.  He’s pushed me to be a hard-working person who can do anything I want.  I think that’s huge, and a great example of parenting,” he had said. So, as expected, when it comes to Tim McAfee’s special day, his son makes sure he goes all out…

“Hey, big fella, Happy Father’s Day. There are 365 days each year you should be respected, but this is the one where we get to celebrate you.” Looks like McAfee doesn’t need a day to extend Father’s Day wishes to his dad. April 6 is more special to McAfee than any day could ever be. McAfee, who is known for his usual energetic on-air persona, took a moment to genuinely express his gratitude for his dad. On his special day, McAfee wrote a heartwarming message to Tim, reminding everyone of their deep connection.

On an early Sunday morning, McAfee took to his Instagram stories to wish his father the warmest of Happy Birthdays. McAfee shared a teenage photo of himself with his dad on their porch and another snap where Tim was working on a wooden cabinet under the sun. “Happy Birthday to my dad. An absolute workhorse and a dawg thru and thru. I love you, man. Thanks for everything you’ve instilled in me and helped me with along this wild road of life,” he wrote.

Whenever it comes to talking about Tim, McAfee brings out his deepest feelings. They aren’t just father and son. McAfee and Tim are as inseparable as tag-team partners. Whatever McAfee has achieved to this day. Whether it’s his ever-growing sports media personality or his 8-year NFL career as a punter. He owes it all to his father: “I owe the world to him. I let him know that on numerous occasions. I’m lucky to have him,” McAfee once said.

While McAfee might be busy spending some quality time with his dad on this special day, his happiness has been on countdown for a while now. The 37-year-old seems to have landed himself in huge trouble—at the expense of his career and his hard-earned respect…

Pat McAfee faces a potential defamation suit after his unfiltered Ole Miss remarks

Let’s go back to February 26. Pat McAfee shared a clip on X to his 3.2M followers with the caption “What’s going on at Ole Miss,” with two laughing crying emojis. That video, which has garnered more than 1.8M views, revolved around a rumor that an Ole Miss sorority freshman had an illicit relationship with her boyfriend’s father.

Those rumors centered around 19-year-old Mary Kate Cornett, whose photos were also made public, becoming the No.1 trending topic on X in the USA. This led to her claiming that her life was now ruined, thanks to people who had no clue what they were talking about. Cornett said to NBC News, “It was so insane. It all happened so fast. I was just in shambles. I just felt so helpless and so alone. Because so many people were hating on me for something that I had no idea anything about.”

She has also expressed her desire to take legal action, possibly a defamation suit against McAfee and ESPN. A distraught Cornett added, “McAfee never once reached out to ask me if this was true or for me to give any sort of statement to him. I thought it was absolutely ridiculous that an ESPN sports broadcaster would be talking about a 19-year-old girl’s s– scandal that was completely false.” McAfee and ESPN are yet to comment on this matter. However, the possibility of him facing a defamation suit remains uncertain.

And if it does happen, McAfee could be dragged to court with steep penalties for such reckless statements. It could be a dent to his flamboyant personality, catering to a massive audience who look up to him.