Exclusive: The Man behind the Manti Te’o Girlfriend Hoax

Overview

Manti Te’o’s 2012 football season inspired many sports fans when, despite the reported deaths of his grandmother and girlfriend, the Notre Dame linebacker earned a Heisman Trophy candidacy and a shot at a National Title — but when reports surfaced indicating his girlfriend, Lennay Kekua, never existed, the athlete became the subject of ridicule and speculation. Te’o claims he was duped into falling in love with Lennay, whom he had never met. In a Dr. Phil exclusive, Ronaiah Tuiasosopo, the mastermind behind the hoax, breaks his silence for the first time. Dr. Phil delves into the path that led to this scheme, and the many twists and turns taken along the way.