Hoaxmaster Tuiasosopo Had “Romantic Feelings” for Manti Te’o

In an interview with, who else, Dr. Phil, the Manti Te’o Hoax mastermind Ronaiah Tuiasosopo revealed that he was in love with Te’o throughout the time he was faking the voice of Te’o’s fake girlfriend Lennay Kekua. In other words, he  was living vicariously through the fake girlfriend he created, in order to feel closer to the Notre Dame star. Dr. Phil previewed his interview with Tuiasosopo, which airs Thursday, to NBC’s Mike Taibbi.

Here we have a young man that fell deeply, romantically in love. I asked him straight up, “Was this a romantic relationship with you?” And he says yes. I said, “Are you therefore gay?” And he said, “Well, hen you put it that way, yes.” And then he caught himself and said, “I am confused.”

Tuiasosopo also claimed full responsibility, denying Te’o was in on the hoax.

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[Deadspin]