Manti Te'o's supposedly dead girlfriend is a hoax - Deadspin

[brandymac27]

Yeah, that's another thing. I'm baffled as to why Notre Dame would continue putting their heads on the line for this guy. It's not like Te'o is coming back next year. The AD should have never given that press conference. The school is now looking bad in all of this.

I totally agree. I have no clue why they're risking their reputation on him at this point. I mean, they aren't idiots. They HAVE to know things are really fishy with this whole story. Why risk your reputation on something like this?

[sacase]

I am starting to think that he was hoaxed. He got caught up in this fake relationship. He covered it up to his friends and family because he was "in love" with a girl he not only met on the internet but had never seen in person. Hence all the lies about seeing her etc. He is probably a big softee and he was trying to maintain his image in the locker room. So as normal, one lie leads to more lies and then when all of this gets drug out in the public and has him looking like a fool, which he was, he lies so more to make it not seem as bad. If that is the case, I really can't blame him, he's what...21? just had his personal life put on blast in the national media with him looking like a fool? Naw...who wouldn't lie...not like its criminal.

Or...........he is gay.

[DeaconTheVillain]

Can someone provide cliff notes of this whole ordeal? I have not heard the story really. I have only heard people talk about his "incredible story."

I know he got lots of media time, many wanted him for the heisman etc.

What was the hoax? He had some tragic story about a girlfirend who he never met? And then it turns out he made the whole thing up?

[Shiv]

I think Lance Armstrong was in on this. If he wasn't he sure got lucky, and by lucky I mean having one testicle and no Tour championships. Hey, I'm ahead of Lance in life by one testicle!

[brandymac27]

I am starting to think that he was hoaxed. He got caught up in this fake relationship. He covered it up to his friends and family because he was "in love" with a girl he not only met on the internet but had never seen in person. Hence all the lies about seeing her etc. He is probably a big softee and he was trying to maintain his image in the locker room. So as normal, one lie leads to more lies and then when all of this gets drug out in the public and has him looking like a fool, which he was, he lies so more to make it not seem as bad. If that is the case, I really can't blame him, he's what...21? just had his personal life put on blast in the national media with him looking like a fool? Naw...who wouldn't lie...not like its criminal.

Or...........he is gay.

But why lie even after you find out she's dead? Also, why even lie in the first place? People meet online more and more now. It's not totally uncommon. I knew a couple who met online in a chat room somewhere. They talked online for maybe 8 or 9 months and finally decided to meet. They eventually were flying back and forth from NC (where she lived) to CO (where he lived) and got married a year later. Why come up with this elaborate story when he could just say he's been talking to this girl online for a while? Most people these days have heard of people meeting online and would think he's a lot less crazy for that than to be involved in this whole concocted story/hoax that's come out in the open. I don't get why he would be so afraid to just tell the truth in the first place???

[Skins_R_Beast]

This story just continues to spiral. After reading the limited amount that has been released from the interview, I still have no idea what to think. I wish he had done this on camera and without a lawyer present, though I understand why he choose to do it this way. I am a big time observer of body language and that is why I wish he had been on camera.

I guess I am leaning toward the side of "he got hoaxed, then lied on top of that so people didn't just think he was dating exclusively online". I still hate the fact that he got the call on Dec 6th, and on Dec 8th and after still mentioned her like he knew she was still dead. That will always bother me. He should have either side stepped the questions or came out and got the story out at that time.

He also says that she asked him for his bank acct #. That is interesting as it does now provide the "what is in it for the hoaxer" explanation. I want to believe this guy, but I honestly can't imagine that he is really that dumb. I'm not saying he was in on the hoax, but he certainly extended it even after knowing she wasn't deceased.

[brandymac27]

Can someone provide cliff notes of this whole ordeal? I have not heard the story really. I have only heard people talk about his "incredible story."

I know he got lots of media time, many wanted him for the heisman etc.

What was the hoax? He had some tragic story about a girlfirend who he never met? And then it turns out he made the whole thing up?

Honestly, the story is so crazy at this point, I wouldn't even know where to start. I'll try and others can fill in or correct things I've left out. Te'o supposedly had this girlfriend he knew for a couple of years. He told people that they had met in person even though they apparently never did. Back in September, he gets a phone call from the girlfriends family saying she died of leukemia (she was diagnosed after a car accident she was in last spring). So, Te'o is obviously upset b/c his girlfriend dies (btw, he knew she had leukemia but never went to visit her in the hospital or went to her funeral), plus his grandmother also died a few hours before his girlfriend died. So, fast forward to December 6th at the ESPN college awards. He gets a phone call during the show and it's from his dead girlfriend! Reports are coming out that she called him on Dec 6th telling him she had to fake her death b/c she was hiding from drug dealers. He eventually reports all of this to ND and his coaches on Dec 26th(IIRC), and they tell him to basically continue the story (lie) that she died. He also mentions this dead girlfriend well after he received the phone call from her on Dec 6th, basically continuing to lie about who she is and their relationship. Some Tui guy (whose name I can't even begin to spell) came forward and admitted that he was behind the whole thing, that it was a hoax, and Te'o wasn't in on the prank at all. This is important b/c a lot of people thought Te'o was behind all of this so he'd get publicity for the Heisman, or they thought it was a "cover story" for him being gay which would help him remain in the closet.

I know I'm leaving things out that I can't think of right now, so I would suggest reading links in the thread to get the whole story.
You can start with the original Deadspin article and the interview from last night:
http://deadspin.com/5976517/manti-te...ium=socialflow

http://espn.go.com/college-football/...-jeremy-schaap


---------- Post added January-19th-2013 at 03:27 PM ----------

He also says that she asked him for his bank acct #. That is interesting as it does now provide the "what is in it for the hoaxer" explanation. I want to believe this guy, but I honestly can't imagine that he is really that dumb. I'm not saying he was in on the hoax, but he certainly extended it even after knowing she wasn't deceased.

What? I missed this part! Was this from the interview last night????

[Skins_R_Beast]

Yes, I heard Jeremy Schapp (or however you spell it) mention this on the 11 pm Pacific time Sportscenter. He said that Manti mentioned that they asked for his bank acct info so that Leenay could send him money. Manti told ESPN that he never provided that info.

---------- Post added January-19th-2013 at 12:45 PM ----------

http://espn.go.com/college-football/...ate-girlfriend

• Te'o was never asked for money during the plot, but Kekua once requested his checking account number in order to send him money. Te'o did not provide his account number.

This is a quote from the article I linked on ESPN

[sacase]

But why lie even after you find out she's dead? Also, why even lie in the first place? People meet online more and more now. It's not totally uncommon. I knew a couple who met online in a chat room somewhere. They talked online for maybe 8 or 9 months and finally decided to meet. They eventually were flying back and forth from NC (where she lived) to CO (where he lived) and got married a year later. Why come up with this elaborate story when he could just say he's been talking to this girl online for a while? Most people these days have heard of people meeting online and would think he's a lot less crazy for that than to be involved in this whole concocted story/hoax that's come out in the open. I don't get why he would be so afraid to just tell the truth in the first place???

While its more and more common, for many there is still a stigma associated with it. I think the reasons for the lies are to cover the past ones and to attempt to minimize his embarrassment.

[Mad Mike]

Yeah, that's another thing. I'm baffled as to why Notre Dame would continue putting their heads on the line for this guy. It's not like Te'o is coming back next year. The AD should have never given that press conference. The school is now looking bad in all of this.

Unless of course, as they said, they hired a very good detective agency who gave them a boatload more facts than we have and they know Te'o is a victim.

Nah, that couldn't be the case, everyone knows random people on the inter web are much better at getting to the truth...



BTW, you know what would REALLY be stupid? If Te'o were in on the hoax and thought he could get away with it.

[skinswillwin06]

Yes, I heard Jeremy Schapp (or however you spell it) mention this on the 11 pm Pacific time Sportscenter. He said that Manti mentioned that they asked for his bank acct info so that Leenay could send him money. Manti told ESPN that he never provided that info.

---------- Post added January-19th-2013 at 12:45 PM ----------

http://espn.go.com/college-football/...ate-girlfriend

• Te'o was never asked for money during the plot, but Kekua once requested his checking account number in order to send him money. Te'o did not provide his account number.

This is a quote from the article I linked on ESPN

He was somehow smart enough to know not to give out his checking account number, but not to figure anything else out. Yeah, right.

[Mad Mike]

Can someone provide cliff notes of this whole ordeal? I have not heard the story really. I have only heard people talk about his "incredible story."

I know he got lots of media time, many wanted him for the heisman etc.

What was the hoax? He had some tragic story about a girlfirend who he never met? And then it turns out he made the whole thing up?

I found a great synopsis here.

Confused about Manti Te’o? This Taiwanese Animated Video Will Clear Things Right Up

Read more: http://newsfeed.time.com/2013/01/19/...#ixzz2ISPm7evZ

[Heisenberg]

Unless of course, as they said, they hired a very good detective agency who gave them a boatload more facts than we have and they know Te'o is a victim.

Nah, that couldn't be the case, everyone knows random people on the inter web are much better at getting to the truth...

BTW, you know what would REALLY be stupid? If Te'o were in on the hoax and thought he could get away with it.

I'd be willing to bet a lot of money at this point that the guy was hoaxed but severely embellished the extent of the relationship and then kept the story going even after finding out that it was a hoax. The reasoning for doing so can be up for debate but I'm almost certain that this is more likely what happened. He was in madly in love with the most beautiful girl ever yet he never even considered going to visit her at home or in the hospital? Yeah, not buying that part of the story at all and that's where I think he embellished exactly how seriously he took the relationship.

But no, I'll keep listening to you - the leader of the Te'o Defense Force, who has been behind on figuring out the details of the story the entire time. I don't know if you are a ND grad or what but there is seriously nobody on the internet defending the guy like you've done in this thread. It's truly baffling.

EDIT: And you can be damn sure if the "love of my life" died of Leukemia that it would take more than a month or two before I started a relationship with a new woman. Like I said, his ability to even do that much pokes a massive hole in your "shy Mormon" rationale for the rest of his behavior.

EDIT 2: Lastly: @ this "investigation" you keep bringing up. Sounds like just the type of investigation that I would expect from an institution that can't be hit with a FIA requests - bare minimum, if that.

http://www.thebiglead.com/index.php/...teo-told-espn/

[Mad Mike]

I'd be willing to bet a lot of money at this point that the guy was hoaxed but severely embellished the extent of the relationship and then kept the story going even after finding out that it was a hoax. The reasoning for doing so can be up for debate but I'm almost certain that this is more likely what happened. He was in madly in love with the most beautiful girl ever yet he never even considered going to visit her at home or in the hospital? Yeah, not buying that part of the story at all and that's where I think he embellished exactly how seriously he took the relationship.

But no, I'll keep listening to you - the leader of the Te'o Defense Force, who has been behind on figuring out the details of the story the entire time. I don't know if you are a ND grad or what but there is seriously nobody on the internet defending the guy like you've done in this thread. It's truly baffling.

Are you smoking crack?

Exhibit A: Post #352 - where in response to your personal attack on me you posted a misleading article and I provided the actual quote that the article screwed up and how for those blessed with the ability to read can see that his response was about how his coaches supported him through hard times.

Exhibit B: Post#368 where I was the first to post Tuiasosopo's confession.

Exhibit C: Post#375 where I was the first to post the report of others who were catfished by Tuiasosopo.

And finally Exhibit D: Where I once again clarify that I'm not saying he didn't lie, and explain why I believe his lies are consistent with bad handling of a tough situation rather than bad intent.

You on the other hand, have espoused such idiotic theories as "He found another (real) girlfriend so he couldn't have cared about the phony one. - Yeah because no one here has EVER looked for comfort in another's arms after losing someone they care about.

[Heisenberg]

Are you smoking crack?

Uh, it wasn't until yesterday that you posted that Tuiasosopo was behind the hoax like it was some kind of breaking news - something that most everyone else had figured out the night the story broke.