Te'o tells Couric 'pain' and 'sorrow' was real (+video)

By Ralph D. Russo

Associated Press

Published: Thursday, Jan. 24 2013 7:02 p.m. MST

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In this photo taken on Jan. 22, 2013 and released by ABC Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te'o, second from left, and his parents Brian and Ottilia, right, listen to host Katie Couric during an interview for "Katie," in New York. Te'o told Couric that he briefly lied about his online girlfriend after discovering she didn't exist, while maintaining that he had no part in creating the hoax. The interview will air on Thursday, Jan. 24.

Disney-ABC, Lorenzo Bevilaqua, Associated Press

Summary

Manti Te'o told Katie Couric the feelings he had for what turned out to be a fake, online girlfriend were real and reiterated he had nothing to do with the hoax.

NEW YORK — Manti Te'o told Katie Couric the feelings he had for what turned out to be a fake, online girlfriend were real and reiterated he had nothing to do with the hoax.

The All-American linebacker said he was truly sorrowful and pained after finding out the woman he knew as Lennay Kekua died in September.

Te'o's once-heartwarming tale of inspired play after the deaths of his grandmother and girlfriend on the same day in September was exposed as a bizarre hoax on Jan. 16. Deadspin.com broke the news that the woman Te'o had claimed to be in love with did not exist.

Te'o, who led Notre Dame to a spot in the national championship, has admitted that when his girlfriend's "death" became a story, he misled reporters into thinking he had met her in the flesh.

The star player recounted the whole, strange episode in an interview with Couric that was broadcast Thursday.

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