Celebrity News January 19, 2013
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."
