Pat McAfee issued an apology for alluding to a false rumor that Hayden Hopkins was expecting a baby conceived by Raiders owner Mark Davis.
On Monday, a number of large social media accounts, including the ubiquitous aggregator Dov Kleiman, took an Instagram post from Hopkins announcing that she was expecting a baby later this year and connected it to Davis.
After Davis hosted Hopkins, a Cirque Du Soleil performer in Las Vegas, at a Raiders game in 2022, rumors flared that the two were a couple before Hopkins said their relationship was platonic.
As JD McDonagh wrestled Braun Strowman on WWE “Raw” on Monday, McAfee, a color commentator on the program, said, “A lot of people look at the size difference and think JD has no chance. Mark Davis is 70 years old and is expecting a child with a 26-year-old. Anything is possible in this modern world!”
Shortly after McAfee made the comments on “Raw,” Hopkins disputed the story that Davis was the father.
“Reports of Mark Davis being the father of my child are wildly untrue. I was pictured sitting next to him at a game in 2022 and have endured false rumors of a romantic relationship since,” Hopkins wrote on X.
“I was just a guest sitting in the owner’s box with other friends. These continued media stories are negatively affecting what should be my happiest days. Joey and I are excited to welcome our baby in the fall.”
On his eponymous show on Tuesday, McAfee said he had seen the news all over social media and issued an apology for referencing the false rumors.
“I apologize for perpetuating a lie,” McAfee said.
“I understand how happy you guys should be at this moment. It would suck to have a 70-year-old billionaire looming over it. So I’d like to apologize to Hayden and let the world know, hey, we gotta make sure we get these things right. I spread lies in the middle of the Braun Strowman-JD McDonagh match last night. Mark Davis is not the father.”