Lennay Kekua, A Hoax!

[gkIrish]

What dreams may come - South Bend Tribune



how will they explain this???

 

[dudesthisisthebest]

Troubling, indeed. For Te'o to be blameless here, this had to have been an epic troll job; spanning years, and involving multiple parties, for no apparent gain to the conspirators. Why would they keep it up so long? What did they hope to gain from it?

Typical trolls get bored of such shenanigans in short order and move on. Still lots of questions that need answering.

This is probably the biggest thing for me. You are telling me that someone put all this time and effort into trolling Manti and then when its all said and done he/she wouldn't want to come forward publicly with a 'gotcha' moment?

Even more so considering that it appears the person perpetrating this is 'friends' with Manti. If they had an axe to grind I would think they'd want to make it public when Te'o was doing the awards circuit.

 

[Irish To The Core]

They started out as just friends," Brian Te'o said. "Every once in a while, she would travel to Hawaii, and that happened to be the time Manti was home, so he would meet with her there. But within the last year, they became a couple

In the end, I want to know how they will explain this statement

I have wondered about that too. Could it have been a misquote or something taken out of context? I wonder who originally reported that quote.

 

[ARALOU]

Could explain his disappearance of ability in the NC game. I told some friends he didn't even look like the player I watched all season. I can't imagine this at all. How do you come up with something like this? If its true. I am at a loss for words.

 

[TerryTate]

Here's the story on ESPN:

Story of Manti Te'o girlfriend death apparently a hoax - ESPN

Teo:

"This is incredibly embarrassing to talk about, but over an extended period of time, I developed an emotional relationship with a woman I met online. We maintained what I thought to be an authentic relationship by communicating frequently online and on the phone, and I grew to care deeply about her. "To realize that I was the victim of what was apparently someone's sick joke and constant lies was, and is, painful and humiliating. "It further pains me that the grief I felt and the sympathies expressed to me at the time of my grandmother's death in September were in any way deepened by what I believed to be another significant loss in my life. "I am enormously grateful for the support of my family, friends and Notre Dame fans throughout this year. To think that I shared with them my happiness about my relationship and details that I thought to be true about her just makes me sick. I hope that people can understand how trying and confusing this whole experience has been. "In retrospect, I obviously should have been much more cautious. If anything good comes of this, I hope it is that others will be far more guarded when they engage with people online than I was. "Fortunately, I have many wonderful things in my life, and I'm looking forward to putting this painful experience behind me as I focus on preparing for the NFL Draft."

 

[rikkitikki08]

Manti's Statment

"This is incredibly embarrassing to talk about, but over an extended period of time, I developed an emotional relationship with a woman I met online. We maintained what I thought to be an authentic relationship by communicating frequently online and on the phone, and I grew to care deeply about her. "To realize that I was the victim of what was apparently someone's sick joke and constant lies was, and is, painful and humiliating. "It further pains me that the grief I felt and the sympathies expressed to me at the time of my grandmother's death in September were in any way deepened by what I believed to be another significant loss in my life. "I am enormously grateful for the support of my family, friends and Notre Dame fans throughout this year. To think that I shared with them my happiness about my relationship and details that I thought to be true about her just makes me sick. I hope that people can understand how trying and confusing this whole experience has been. "In retrospect, I obviously should have been much more cautious. If anything good comes of this, I hope it is that others will be far more guarded when they engage with people online than I was. "Fortunately, I have many wonderful things in my life, and I'm looking forward to putting this painful experience behind me as I focus on preparing for the NFL Draft."

 

[mgriff]

So he lied to make it seem like he wasn't a "loser" with an online relationship. Bummer for Te'o and I feel bad for him, because it takes a lot of faith to believe that he was wholly duped in this process. We are ND fans, it's naturally easier for us to believe, but a non-biased observer is going to have one hell of a time with that.

What have we learned, kids? Have lots of premarital sex so you know you're actually in a relationship. At least have her send you nude pictures with timestamps. Tits or GTFO

 

[NDFANnSouthWest]

ND screwed up by not beating DeadSpin to the punch.

 

[Irish To The Core]

Whatever the truth turns out to be this is going to be made into a movie. This Tuiasosopo guy is probably optioning the rights to the story this very minute.

 

[Domina Nostra]

It seems impossible to me that he would announce the death of a fake girlfriend teh day after he lost his grandmother. You would have to be pretty crazy to do that.

 

[Cogs]

Awesome. Can't wait to hear all the **** I'll get here for the next few weeks. This is ****ing ridiculous.

 

[ND NYC]

you do all know there isnt going to be some actual official "investigation" of this now or in the future to prove or disprove all these things, right?

if you do think this, then tell me: WHO is going to do that investigation and why. the police? what crime was committed here?
the FBI? see last question.

this thing has so many layers and is so complicated and absurd that there is no explanation or "spin" to put Manti in a favorable light. and your kidding yourself if you dont think that this negatively affects the ND brand and image. i pray (literally) this was not the case i really do but this will be a POX on our entire ND house im afraid. I am sad, mad, confused soo many emotions on this thing its really hard to describe. in a word: surreal.

 

[BurningRiver]

I think I believe him...

 

[Old North State Irish]

A Notre Dame source told ESPN that Te'o was vetted heavily when the school learned in December that Kekua was a hoax, and said he believes Te'o was not involved. But a friend of Tuiasosopo told Deadspin he was quote "80 percent sure" that Te'o participated and did so with publicity in mind.

The above caption is from the ESPN on-line edition. It sounds stupid for me to say this but this story is going to go on for quite a while. If Manti thinks he was vetted by ND and their agents (acting on thier behalf), just wait for the vetting that is coming. We will soon learn what time he has went to the bathroom for the past year. I again hope he is totally innocent and if so-I wish well going this this ordeal!

 

[PANDFAN]

Awesome. Can't wait to hear all the **** I'll get here for the next few weeks. This is ****ing ridiculous.

ohhh my fb is blowing up

 

[koonja]

Story of Manti Te'o girlfriend and her death apparently a hoax - ESPN

To realize that I was the victim of what was apparently someone's sick joke and constant lies was, and is, painful and humiliating.

 

[ThePiombino]

Here's the story on ESPN:

Story of Manti Te'o girlfriend death apparently a hoax - ESPN

Teo:

"This is incredibly embarrassing to talk about, but over an extended period of time, I developed an emotional relationship with a woman I met online. We maintained what I thought to be an authentic relationship by communicating frequently online and on the phone, and I grew to care deeply about her. "To realize that I was the victim of what was apparently someone's sick joke and constant lies was, and is, painful and humiliating. "It further pains me that the grief I felt and the sympathies expressed to me at the time of my grandmother's death in September were in any way deepened by what I believed to be another significant loss in my life. "I am enormously grateful for the support of my family, friends and Notre Dame fans throughout this year. To think that I shared with them my happiness about my relationship and details that I thought to be true about her just makes me sick. I hope that people can understand how trying and confusing this whole experience has been. "In retrospect, I obviously should have been much more cautious. If anything good comes of this, I hope it is that others will be far more guarded when they engage with people online than I was. "Fortunately, I have many wonderful things in my life, and I'm looking forward to putting this painful experience behind me as I focus on preparing for the NFL Draft."

This all I needed to hear. I'm in Manti's corner. Naivity trumps conspiracy in my book.

 

[Sherm Sticky]

I'm going to be a straight shooter with you guys. This doesn't look good for Manti and his family.

 

[Irish Fam]

Is it possible that Manti got caught up in the hype of the situation and exaggerated their relationship?

It could have been a cruel joke that someone played on him to begin with. Then she supposedly passes away and the media goes crazy over the story of a senoir mlb at undefeated notre dame playing inspired due to the recent deaths of his girlfriend and grandma.

Manti feels that he can't come out and say that it was just a internet/long distance relationship/friendship after all of the coverage and begins to tell a little lie here and there.

This would explain conflicting reports of when they met, how long they were together, how often they talked, and how often they actually saw eachother.

Just a thought. Feel free to pick away at it

 

[Domina Nostra]

This all I needed to hear. I'm in Manti's corner. Naivity trumps conspiracy in my book.

Especially the day after your grandmother died. If he wanted publicity, it fell in his lap for free. Why go through with it at that point unless you are just seriously crazy?

 

[Cogs]

He was clearly hoaxed. Why would Manti lie for publicity if his Grandma had actually died right before?

 

[Domina Nostra]

Is it possible that Manti got caught up in the hype of the situation and exaggerated their relationship?

It could have been a cruel joke that someone played on him to begin with. Then she supposedly passes away and the media goes crazy over the story of a senoir mlb at undefeated notre dame playing inspired due to the recent deaths of his girlfriend and grandma.

Manti feels that he can't come out and say that it was just a internet/long distance relationship/friendship after all of the coverage and begins to tell a little lie here and there.

This would explain conflicting reports of when they met, how long they were together, how often they talked, and how often they actually saw eachother.

Just a thought. Feel free to pick away at it

That is exactly what I think happened.

 

[Jebediah Springfield]

Is it possible that Manti got caught up in the hype of the situation and exaggerated their relationship?

It could have been a cruel joke that someone played on him to begin with. Then she supposedly passes away and the media goes crazy over the story of a senoir mlb at undefeated notre dame playing inspired due to the recent deaths of his girlfriend and grandma.

Manti feels that he can't come out and say that it was just a internet/long distance relationship/friendship after all of the coverage and begins to tell a little lie here and there.

This would explain conflicting reports of when they met, how long they were together, how often they talked, and how often they actually saw eachother.

Just a thought. Feel free to pick away at it

At this point, this is the best case scenario... and what I hope happened.

 

[ND NYC]

Wow this off season has really sucked! I dont understand why anyone would of started a hoax on him three years ago?????? This year was the first time he became a house hold name.

#Revenge of Troy

 

[ARALOU]

What about the "leaving the phone on the pillow all night while they slept"? I always thought that was a strange thing to say. Talk about unlimited cell minutes.

 

[STLDomer]

My original hope

“@TheBigLead: Oh, i see what Manti's arguing - all the stories about actually meeting her were lies because he was embarrassed he met her online.”

 

[Ultimate Penn St. Hater]

This is the craziest thing I've ever heard.

 

[Pops Freshenmeyer]

This is probably the biggest thing for me. You are telling me that someone put all this time and effort into trolling Manti and then when its all said and done he/she wouldn't want to come forward publicly with a 'gotcha' moment?

Even more so considering that it appears the person perpetrating this is 'friends' with Manti. If they had an axe to grind I would think they'd want to make it public when Te'o was doing the awards circuit.

My wife loves the Catfish show.

Typically the person behind the fake internet identity is someone who is depressed about their life, feels unattractive and unwanted by the opposite sex. They create the internet identity of somebody cooler, more attractive and exciting in order to engage others in a relationship that is actually meaningful to them (though a lie at its core).

Basically, I think the perpetrator was probably a stalker in the making type who got an emotional boost from connecting with Te'o but eventually had to expose herself or end it... so they ended it in a way that did not expose themselves.

 

[WakeUpEchoes]

Another posted just pointed this out to me in text:

He remembered that after she died in her twitter it said "hey guys its manti, just want to thank you for all of your support."

Now, this could still be the conspirators doing this. But who knows. I haven't looked to find the tweet or anything.

 

[BurningRiver]

But help me piece this together... How real was Lennay? Did she have a fake address? Fake parents? A fake roomate at Stanford? Did she have a hometown? How deep was this lie?

One would have to think that Manti couldn't have become involved in such a serious relationship with someone, someone who his dad called a potential daughter-in-law, without knowing intimate details about her life. When he heard she died, who told him? A fake doctor? Her fake mother? Did he call and offer condolences to any fake relatives? To whom did he send those white roses? If he had disobeyed her alleged wish for him to play if she'd died, where would he have gone for the funeral? Did he never think to visit her grave or contact her parents?

I want to believe Manti, I really do. Before this afternoon I esteemed him as my favorite athlete, at any level, in any sport, of all time. His statement sounds sincere, but there are still so, so many holes that need to be filled in for me to fully believe him.