THE STORY
In 2012, Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te'o's story of his girlfriend Lennay Kekua's death from leukemia was revealed to be a hoax. The fabricated relationship was orchestrated by Ronaiah Tuiasosopo, who posed as Kekua online. Te'o, who had been a Heisman Trophy finalist, faced public scrutiny and his NFL draft prospects were affected. The incident highlighted the dangers of online deception and 'catfishing'.
TEAMS / PEOPLE:
Manti Te'o, Notre Dame
WHY IT MATTERS
The Manti Te'o hoax is a significant example of online deception impacting a high-profile athlete, leading to widespread media coverage and discussions about online identity and privacy.