LLast Saturday, Manti Te'o starred in a new Netflix documentary Untold: A Girlfriend Who Never Existed Surrounded by his home in Utah. The film, released Tuesday, deals with the catfish fishing scandal that rocked the United States nearly a decade ago. TheoHeisman during his senior year at Notre Dame He was a finalist in the Trophyand enjoyed afairytale seasonovercoming twin trauma Later, he led the University of Notre Dame to a national competition. His grandmother and girlfriend Renai Kekua died in September 2012One problem: Kekua did not exist. Ronaia Tuiasosopo, nicknamed Naya, established an online identity as Kekua and continued her relationship with Theo, who learned of the hoax in December of that year. Deadspinbrought it to the public through an explosive investigation published in January 2013 after Notre Dame lost to Alabama by his 42-14 in the title game.
In the film, Tuia Sosopo, who now identifies herself as a transgender woman, explains how she carried out the deception. Te'o describes how her embarrassment triggered anxiety attacks after attending theNFL. Theo really broke down in tears when the movie showed the highlights of his Notre Dame days before it all unraveled. "Just remembering those days, being who I was then, the people I was around, the love, the support, it was definitely an emotional experience," said Theo in a white Notre Dame zip-up jacket. He told TIME in his Zoom interview on Wednesday. "It was a healing experience."
The film echoes.Untold:The Girlfriend That Never Existedwas listed as his Netflix #2 movie on August 17th. Regret, and future.
(This interview has been condensed and edited for clarity)
Time: Why am I telling myself now? Is it
Theo: When I was first contacted, when it happened, I still had no space to do anything. I was still embarrassed. I was still embarrassed. So I knew, one, I didn't want to say anything, and two, that even if I said something, it wasn't true.
In 2017, [New Orleans His Saints Defensive His End] Cam Jordan took me to a Jay-Z concert in New Orleans. Jay-Z said, "You can't heal what you don't reveal." From that moment on, he said to himself, ``I want to have these difficult conversations with the people I want.'' I just got to Saint. I had a lot of new teammates and they were asking a lot of questions, so it was a great opportunity to share. I just happened to notice that I was starting to gain a little more strength. Not exactly comfortable, but I've gotten used to it. More importantly, there was love, empathy and support from those who asked. So I was suddenly like, 'Man, I'm stronger now.
Three years later [The Girlfriend That Never Was co-director] Tony Vainuk was contacted. He and I had the same conversation, but he just listened. he said. you have to say it I am happy with everything and ready to tell you that. I'm not embarrassed. And if Netflix, Tony Vainuk and [co-director] Ryan Duffy are willing to tell the whole story, I will.
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Courtesy of Netflix
We've shared some of the feedback, both positive and negative, since the film's release.
Everything is going well, it was great because it was global, people from France, people from Germany, people from Africa, we got messages in different languages, they I don't know what it means, but the emojis tell me it's all about love.
So many people are talking about catfishing cases and family lawsuits. , divorce, the loss of a loved one, and so on. And the different parts of the documentary really helped them have different perspectives. All I can hope for is to help people experience what they've been through by seeing how my life has gone.
I challenge everyone to tell people that you love them. Don't wait. We live in a society where funerals are the most "I love you" place. If you are on the road and can help someone, please do so. No cost. But to him, it means the world.
READ MORE: NFL Continues Groping, Congress Continues Punt
In Documentary It was a most amazing revelation.
Honestly, the most surprising thing for me was Deadspin. But I had some understanding when I saw what they were going to do. It was like, "OK, you were just trying to report the facts." And I respect that. You're just trying to do your job in the best possible way. I don't disagree with you on that.
That's really interesting.Timothy Burke and Jack DickeySocial You have seen his media criticism directed at the former Deadspin reporter who wrote this article. , since the film's release. You basicallyblame themfor ruining your life. But after the documentary, you don't hold onto those feelings.
I don't think one person or his one company screwed it all up. It was like a tsunami of different people, different events. So watching [Deadspin's reporting process] was uncomfortable. But I was like, "OK, I see you're just trying to do your job."
Deadspin Catfishing Stories
Courtesy of Netflix
In the film, Burke and Dickie argue that their stories have led the mainstream media to make basic fact-checks. It is the one that condemns the inability to do. For example, understand that not a single Renai Kekua graduated from Stanford University. But instead, people focused on whether you were complicit in the hoax,speculation about your sexual orientation,and so on. Looking back, were you surprised by the results?
Yeah. As an athlete, "I'm probably going to hit ESPN. Maybe local news." That's about it. But this went for everyone. It was amazing, to say the least. I was like, "Where are you getting these facts from?" But I have no control over what they say. Control what you can control and do your best with it.
Any message for Naya Tuiasosopo?
Forgiveness. For me, forgiveness is powerful. Because that person is not the only one you forgive. It's also for myself. It's not like Naya reached out to me and said, "Please forgive me." Naya never asked me to forgive her. It was already given because I knew what I needed to do. And the next part, forgiveness is unconditional. There is a lot of power and peace that goes with it. If you want peace back in your life and control over your life again, forgive me.
Naya Tuiasosopo, "Undecided. Tuiasosopo established the online identity of Kekua and continued his relationship with T'eoGood Life during your seven-year NFL career, when the catfish incident led to a first-round draft pick. It's clear from the movie that he didn't get it and was worried during his first few years with the San Diego Chargers.If this hadn't happened, imagine makingmillions You also talked about an incident where Naya, speaking as Renai Kekua, breathed your name on the other end of the phone line.There was a lot of trauma there.
During that time I had this anger that was drowning me. My whole world was just a spinning hurricane and I was desperately looking for peace I was doing everything I could to try to rediscover who I was I put quotes on the mirror in my apartment I made a book called Dear Manti every time my brothers and parents came to visit I gave it to them"Hey, before everyone leaves, write me a letter," he says. Because you have to remember. I was watching an old movie of myself in high school. I tried to remember how I felt, my confidence. I realized that the only way to have peace was to let go of my anger and forgive. People who use this feeling of hate, anger, or revenge are giving someone power over your life to dictate how you live your life. And what an expensive price it is.
Would you like to go to the room with Naya and talk about what happened with the catfish incident? for hashing things.
I'm not sure.
Why?
After all, you still did this to me. Everything I wanted to say to Naya, I was able to say it in the most sincere way for me. "Hey listen, I'm sorry. And I hope you and your family are okay. And I'm fine. And we can go our separate ways." I have no malice. I think the documentary covers everything I wanted to say and do.
What is your next step?
I don't know. What I do know for sure is that I have this little baby girl right next to me. she is sleeping my wife is here We are waiting for her son. Her wife goes to nursing school. I support her in her nursing school. She wants to open a medical spa. I wholeheartedly agree. So if someone wants to do a medical spa job in 4 years or so, I think my wife will be fine.
But honestly, I just want to raise good people. when they go to school. I want you to be careful and sit next to a child sitting alone in the dining room. Help the kid who dropped the book pick it up.
You last played for the Chicago Bears practice team in 2020 and are listed as an NFL free agent. Is football something you keep chasing? Or done.
Yes, it's over, bro. That life got me. i'm obsessed with it. I want to raise my children here. I owe many teammates who have family credit and even more credit to their wives. The amount of time we spent away from our family, I can't imagine being away from our kids for so long.
If there's one thing you've ever regretted doing, what would it be?
My only regret is that since 2013 there have been many people who truly loved me. Many people came to cheer me on and help me. But I was in a dark place and couldn't get that help. I didn't appreciate the help. So there are a lot of people who were really there to help me even though I didn't appreciate the way I should have been. I wish I had treated that love and help more carefully.
Interesting. The short answer to that question is that I wish I hadn't started talking to Renee Kakua. Please correct me if I'm wrong.
So, I wish all this hadn't happened. But personally, my biggest regret is that my actions negatively affected myself and someone else.
sean. gregory@time. com Write to Sean Gregory at
