On Thursday, the highly-anticipated interview between Katie Couric and Notre Dame football player Manti Te’o aired, revealing a bit more about the “Catfish-like” scheme that came to light last week.
In the interview, Te’o acknowledged that he embellished the story to his friends, football team and parents, but he still denies any involvement in the scam.
He told Couric that the same day everyone found out about the hoax, he found out as well.
When Couric asked him if he created the hoax to cover up his sexuality, Te’o said no. She then asked him explicitly if he was gay.
“No! Far from it…far from it.”
Addressing the rumors that he and Ronaiah Tuiasosopo had a relationship prior to him finding out about the hoax, Te’o said that he had only talked to Kekua’s “favorite cousin,” twice.
“The only time I would talk to Ron is when I couldn’t find Lennay.”
On Dec. 16, Tuiasosopo sent Te’o a direct message on Twitter admitting that he impersonated Kekua. They then had a phone call where Tuiasosopo apologized to Te’o.
It wasn’t until later that he actually told his parents that the entire relationship was a hoax.
“I wasn’t as forthcoming about it, I was embarrassed to feel that I had ever seen this person,” Te’o said. “The biggest lie that I’m sorry for is the lie that I told my dad.”
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article courtesy of GlobalGrind.com/video courtesy of katiecouric.com
