ESPN docuseries to cover Manti Te'o girlfriend hoax

NEW YORK, NY - DECEMBER 08: Heisman finalists linebacker Manti Te'o of the University of Notre Dame Fighting Irish speaks during a press conference prior to the 78th Heisman Trophy Presentation at the Marriott Marquis on December 8, 2012 in New York City.
Mike Stobe / Getty Images Sport / Getty

The story surrounding former Notre Dame star linebacker Manti Te'o and his girlfriend hoax will be explored in a new episode of the ESPN documentary series "Backstory."

The documentary, scheduled to premiere this fall, will cover all aspects of the story and offer new information, according to investigative reporter and host Don Van Natta Jr.

Te'o was duped into an online relationship with a woman named Lennay Kekua, who was purported to have died in 2012 following a battle with leukemia. It was later revealed by Timothy Burke and Jack Dickey of Deadspin that Kekua never existed.

Ronaiah Tuiasosopo, the person behind the hoax, told the "Dr. Phil Show" in 2013 that Te'o had no involvement in the scam, and that he didn't think he ever suspected that Kekua wasn't real.

XRedditFacebookWhatsAppEmailSMS