PHOTO: ESPN
There is a new level of ridiculous to the "fake dead girlfriend" story of Notre Dame University star linebacker Manti Te'o. The alleged hoax mastermind Ronaiah Tuiasosopo used "a falsetto voice on phone calls and in voice mails" for months in order to develop "a relationship" with Te'o, Tuiasosopo's attorney told the New York Daily News.
The Heisman Trophy finalist “thought it was a female he was talking with,” lawyer Milton Grimes acknowledged to the Daily News. "It was Ronaiah as Lennay."
Tuiasosopo’s résumé includes vocal and dramatic training. He was president of his high school drama club, performs with a Christian band and auditioned last year for the TV talent show "The Voice."
Grimes insisted that former high school football star Tuiasosopo, 22, wasn’t trying to hurt or humiliate Te’o. "This wasn’t a prank to make fun," Grimes told The News. "It was establishing a communication with someone. ... It was a person with a troubled existence trying to reach out and communicate and have a relationship."
Grimes declined to answer when asked to elaborate on his client’s intentions or what type of relationship he wanted with the college football star: "I wouldn’t describe his issues at this time."
The elaborate story of Manti Te'o's girlfriend "Lennay Kekua" dying on the same day as his grandmother was revealed to be a hoax by DEADSPIN on January 16. The narrative had often been repeated by sports and mainstream journalists in previous months and during Te'o's candidacy for the Heisman Trophy, which he placed second.
Te’o has denied any role in the "hoax" and claimed he was "catfished" ... but admitted perpetuating the story to news media after he learned it was not true in December.
Katie Couric asked the linebacker—who is Samoan, a Mormon and from Hawaii—if the hoax was an elaborate scheme to deflect attention from his sexuality. Te'o assured her that he was "not gay, far from it."
Does anyone believe any of this? Anyone?
Something not right here...
Posted by: iama{GAY}tekeeper | 25 January 2013 at 14:41
Chile please. This story is a crazy hot mess.
Posted by: Edmond | 25 January 2013 at 15:38
"Does anyone believe any of this? Anyone?"
No, not at all. It's the biggest bowl of "MARY!" and CRAZY that I've heard in years. I don't even know where to start lolz.
Posted by: West Side | 25 January 2013 at 16:21
Another Mormon exposed as a fraud. Color me surprised. Not.
Posted by: WSB | 25 January 2013 at 17:54
What the hell kind of famous football player has an "online girlfriend"? Please, most players are gettin' as much as they can.
And if he wanted to say the whole "I'mMormon, saving himself for marriage" thing, he could have just said that.
Posted by: Tavares | 25 January 2013 at 18:02
I don't believe it for a minute. Got to say though, too bad Ronaiah is a nut case. He's cute as hell!
Posted by: worst_1_yet | 25 January 2013 at 18:09
Sorry, but there is no way he was not complicit in some way when he VOLUNTEERED details about having met this girl in the past.
Posted by: Young | 25 January 2013 at 20:53
Although this story is fishy as hell (and I hope no one ends up taking their life bhind this insanity), I know that there are many people that get caught up in online infatuations. I had a classmate in my Social Deviance class who pulled a stunt like this, where he created a page on Migente and MySpace. It was astonishing the number of guys that fell for a pretty face and half naked pics. The IM's and messages were off the chain.
Posted by: Christian | 26 January 2013 at 08:34