Manti Te’o Speaks, Denies Being Part of Hoax
Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te’o, who was caught in an Internet dating hoax, says he “wasn’t faking it.”
Speaking with ESPN on Friday, Te’o said he wasn’t part of the hoax, allegedly perpetrated by friend Ronaiah Tuiasosopo, but Manti did admit he “tailored” his stories so people would think he “met her before she passed away.”
Watch.
Deadspin.com broke the story earlier this week, reporting that the football star’s girlfriend “Lennay Kekua,” who “died” of leukemia in September, was completely made up.
Te'o said he didn't know for sure that "Lennay Kekua" never existed until Wednesday, when Ronaiah Tuiasosopo called Te'o and admitted he was behind the hoax, along with another man and a woman.
"Two guys and a girl are responsible for the whole thing," Te'o said. Asked who they are, he said: "I don't know. According to Ronaiah, Ronaiah's one."
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I can understand why Mani Te'o would pretend he met this woman, he's in a very public position, for him to say "they never met" would have had the tabloids going crazy with rumors. But since this has happened to other (non public people) I truly believe he had no idea he was being duped. I wish Dr. Phil would re-air that segment when he actually had 2 or young woman to whom this happened to and it went on for years before the truth came out, the pain and hurt. I also wish the creature of "Cat fish" who was also on Dr. Phil and who himself, a very successful, very intelligent young man and this happened to would add some input into this. Manti Te'o was duped in the worse possible way from some sick, twisted, evil person with no regard for anyone but their own sick, twisted idea of a joke.