Te'o tells ESPN: Not involved in creating hoax
NEW YORK (AP) — ESPN says Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te'o maintains he was never involved in creating the dead girlfriend hoax.
He said in an off-camera interview Friday night: "I wasn't faking it. I wasn't part of this. When they hear the facts they'll know. They'll know there is no way I could be a part of this."
The comments were Te'o's first public remarks since Deadspin.com reported that his girlfriend not only didn't die but, in fact, never existed.
Notre Dame and Te'o insist he was the victim of a cruel joke. Still unanswered are questions why the All-American never made it clear he knew the woman only online and by telephone.
Earlier Friday, athletic director Jack Swarbrick urged Te'o and his family to speak publicly about the hoax.
Te'o was interviewed at the IMG Training Academy in Bradenton, Fla., where he is preparing for the NFL draft. ESPN said a public relations consultant was with him.
The Heisman Trophy finalist and his family had planned to go public with the story Monday, but Deadspin.com broke the news first on Wednesday.
Te'o led the Fighting Irish to a 12-0 regular season and the BCS title game, where they were routed 42-14 by Alabama and Te'o played poorly.
He said in an off-camera interview Friday night: "I wasn't faking it. I wasn't part of this. When they hear the facts they'll know. They'll know there is no way I could be a part of this."
The comments were Te'o's first public remarks since Deadspin.com reported that his girlfriend not only didn't die but, in fact, never existed.
Notre Dame and Te'o insist he was the victim of a cruel joke. Still unanswered are questions why the All-American never made it clear he knew the woman only online and by telephone.
Earlier Friday, athletic director Jack Swarbrick urged Te'o and his family to speak publicly about the hoax.
Te'o was interviewed at the IMG Training Academy in Bradenton, Fla., where he is preparing for the NFL draft. ESPN said a public relations consultant was with him.
The Heisman Trophy finalist and his family had planned to go public with the story Monday, but Deadspin.com broke the news first on Wednesday.
Te'o led the Fighting Irish to a 12-0 regular season and the BCS title game, where they were routed 42-14 by Alabama and Te'o played poorly.
Do you know how many people get duped by people when having an online relationship? Ever seen the movie Catfish? It's a TRUE STORY about a guy who fell in love and had an 8 month relationship with a girl who turned out to be someone else. They realized that this happens ALL THE TIME so they made a tv show out of it.
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This isn't news. It happens to people on a daily basis. It doesn't mean the duped person was lying or in on the hoax. It just means that they were stupid enough to trust someone they have never met and fell in love with a fictional person.
I think it's hilarious that the media got taken so badly by this fraudulent story.Â
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People put WAY too much stock into what they read from our media.Â
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Remember the guy working for the New York Times that was just making stories up?
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When I was young, news was a loss leader. The news divisions were expected to lose money.
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Now the opposite is true and look what has happened.
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So I say HA HA to all the media that got taken by these lies. The joke is on YOU ESPN for now having to save face.Â
I've read this story on other sites and i don't understand the fuss. Did he profit from lie or commit fraud that is a the heart of these discussions if he a real girlfriend or not? Why is important to know if he lied or not, and how is it connected to football? Perhaps jhe's just one of those liars like the one's that say they won the lottery and they have not ticket.
Hard to say what is the truth in this story but to all the NFL teams looking at him its a real red flag....
This guy reminds me of two people I knew. One was duped by a card reader into thinking a true love was on the way and the other was convinced similarly by a tea leaf reader. It's pitiful that someone would base a relationship on the internet, but it doesn't surprise me.
Whatever happened here, this young man needs intervention.