A "heartbreaking" story about Manti Te'o's girlfriend dying of leukemia, which reportedly inspired the Notre Dame All-American to lead his team all the way to the BCS title game, was apparently just a hoax.
A report conducted by Deadspin.com stated that they couldn't find any record that a woman by the name of Lennay Kekua ever existed.
Notre Dame stated that coaches were told by Te'o and his parents on Dec. 26 that he had been a victim of what was apparently a hoax. Someone used a fictitious name "apparently ingratiated herself with Manti and then conspired with others to lead him to believe she had tragically died of leukemia."
"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," said Te'o in a statement about the hoax. "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.
Click here to read the full press statement on CBS.
The college confirmed that "the proper authorities" have been notified and have already started investigating the matter. Notre Dame did not have any information on who specifically was investigating the case according to the Associated Press.
Notre Dame Head Coach Brian Kelly told reporters that Te'o's grandmother and a friend had died on Sept. 15, the week before the team played Michigan State. Te'o didn't miss the game, and he claimed Kekua told him not to miss the game even if she did die. Te'o went on to have one of the best seasons ever by a defensive player, and was the runner up for the 2012 Heisman Trophy.
"I am enormously grateful for the support of my family, friends and Notre Dame fans throughout this year," said Te'o in the press statement. "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.
The Irish lost the BCS game to Alabama 24-14 on Jan. 7. Just a few days later Te'o posted on his Twitter that he was already preparing for the NFL combine and draft at the IMG Academy in Florida.
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