The girl whose photo was used as the "face" of the Twitter account of Manti Te'o's supposed girlfriend says the man allegedly behind the hoax confessed and apologized to her.
Diane O'Meara told NBC's "Today" show Tuesday that Ronaiah Tuiasosopo used footage of her without her knowledge in making a pretend lady known as Lennay Kekua. Tuiasosopo has not spoken publicly since the news broke. Peter Navy Tuiasosopo, uncle of Ronaiah Tuiasosopo, says the family plans to hold a meeting this week to determine when and the way his nephew would talk concerning the bizarre prank.
In an off-camera interview, Te'o identified that person as Ronaiah Tuiasosopo, a 22-year-old acquaintance who lives in California. The Deadspin story indicated Ronaiah Tuiasosopo was concerned, and instructed Te'o was, too.
The family is holding up well," Peter Navy Tuiasosopo said. The family has not commented publicly since news of the hoax broke.
Earlier in the day, ABC news announced that Te'o would do his initial television interview with Katie Couric. The interview can air Thursday on Couric's daytime talk show and Te'o's parents will be with him. Te'o went to coaches and college officers with his story on Dec. twenty six. The college commissioned an investigation that it says confirmed Te'o wasn't concerned. The faculty informed Te'o's folks about the investigation results on Jan. 5
Diane O'Meara told NBC's "Today" show Tuesday that Ronaiah Tuiasosopo used photos of her while not her knowledge in making a fake woman called Lennay Kekua. Te'o asserts he was tricked into an on-line romance with Kekua and, till last week, did not perceive he was being hoaxed.
O'Meara went to high college in California with Tuiasosopo, however she says they're not close. He referred to as to apologize Jan. 16, the day Deadspin.com broke the hoax story, she said.
"I don't assume there's something he might inform me that will fix this," said O'Meara, a 23-year-previous marketing executive in Los Angeles.
O'Meara said she had never had any contact with Te'o, which for 5 years, Tuiasosopo "has literally been stalking my Facebook and stealing my photos."
Tuiasosopo has not spoken publicly since the news broke. His family has said they may speak out in the week.
Te'o did an off camera interview with ESPN last week and is scheduled to appear on appear with his folks on Katie Couric's syndicated speak show Thursday..
