cation inspired a 2010 documentary
called "Catfish" that showed how
such a scheme is hatched. The movie
directors got so many responses from
viewers who thought the same thing
was happening to them that it became
a television series and eventually a
verb unto itself. Te'o was catfished.
This type of hoax predates the Internet in Samoan culture, according
to Indiana University anthropology
professor Ilana Gershon. Gershon specializes in Samoan diaspora and says
she has come across gossip about strikingly similar plots during her research.
Those hoaxes targeted a "well-known
community golden boy" and included
oddly consistent details about travelling abroad and leukemia, both of
which found their way into Kekua's
backstory.
Given the value Samoan culture
places on family involvement in relationships and marriage, Gershon understands why Te'o carried on a nonphysical relationship with a "good
girl" for so long.
Oct. 3, 2012 — In an emotional,
40-minute press conference, Te'o
discusses his girlfriend's death,
sending flowers to her funeral in
California and more details about
their relationship.
✚
"It wasn't surprising to me that
Manti Te'o wouldn't push very hard
to see her," she said. "It would matter
more that she was at least part Samoan
and that she would be a good girl —
that she would be quoting scripture
with his family and demonstrating
that she was a good daughter-in-law."
Who Could Create
Such A Deceitful Plot?
Swarbrick first described the sordid tale as "an elaborate hoax" and
a "cruel joke." Its mastermind was
22-year-old Ronaiah Tuiasosopo, a
Southern California-based Samoan
Christian who says he is confused
about his identity and sexuality.
Tuiasosopo created the Lennay
Kekua character years before "she"
met Te'o. He duped others with the
online alter ego, and eventually Te'o
initiated contact via Facebook because
they had a mutual friend. The virtual
puppet master said he had no intentions of exploiting Te'o's growing fame
or harming him in any way.
