EPISODE · May 3, 2025 · 8 MIN
The Biggest Catfish Scam in History - The Manti Te'o story
from Ray William Johnson: True Story Podcast · host Ray William Johnson
Manti Te'o, a standout linebacker at Notre Dame, became the center of a high-profile catfishing scandal in 2013. During his senior season in 2012, Te'o publicly shared that both his grandmother and his girlfriend, Lennay Kekua, had died on the same day. This narrative garnered national sympathy and bolstered his Heisman trophy prospects. However, investigations revealed that Lennay Kekua never existed. The persona was fabricated by Ronaiah "Naya" Tuiasosopo, who used photos of another woman to create a fictitious online identity. Te'o had been in an online relationship with Kekua, believing her to be real.
What this episode covers
Manti Te'o, a standout linebacker at Notre Dame, became the center of a high-profile catfishing scandal in 2013. During his senior season in 2012, Te'o publicly shared that both his grandmother and his girlfriend, Lennay Kekua, had died on the same day. This narrative garnered national sympathy and bolstered his Heisman trophy prospects. However, investigations revealed that Lennay Kekua never existed. The persona was fabricated by Ronaiah "Naya" Tuiasosopo, who used photos of another woman to create a fictitious online identity. Te'o had been in an online relationship with Kekua, believing her to be real.
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The Biggest Catfish Scam in History - The Manti Te'o story
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