I remember when this story broke.
It was confusing as to why it was such a big deal because it didn’t make sense as each news outlet coverage was very different. Also, once I realized it was a simple Catfish story I checked out. I love the show Catfish, but the story of Manti Te’o was different. Maybe it was the intense hype about it. Maybe because it was mainstream.
All I knew is that I just wasn’t interested.
Fast forward from the year 2013 to the now present year of 2022 the actual story is still very basic when it comes to the actual catfish tale. If you are someone that watches the Catfish show by Nev and Kamie it is not that interesting.
However, one the thing that I never understood is how people that are the Catfish are brushed aside. They’re villainized. They’re terrible people. How could they do this?
Their feelings are quickly pushed aside because they’re considered to be a fraud and hurt the person who believed them. They don’t appreciate the fact that this person fabricated a whole ass life just to get a little bit of their attention.
The obstacles they have to face to get another picture of the person they’re impersonating, the voice changing, the constant creative thinking it takes to get out of a video call, meeting up, and how frustrating and said it must be on there end to understand that one day this will all be over. Not only because it was all based on a lie, but because they’re not attracted to you.
How heart crushing? Not only are you the villain, but now you’ve lost someone you cared about.
Why can’t we see that people who catfish others are terribly broken people?
Most of the time these people aren’t just scared of rejection. These people have been told over time they cannot and will not be loved unless they are someone else. People will say they rather be hated for who they are than loved for being someone else.
If this was completely true than Kim Kardashian wouldn’t have spent almost $1 million dollars in appearance altering procedures because deep down we all just want to be loved.
Now, lets talk about the Insane Untold Story of Manti Te’o.
The Girlfriend Who Didn’t Exist Story
First of all this documentary is more than just a catfish story.
This is a story about forgiveness, self-acceptance, and sloppy mainstream journalism.
Manti Te’o — His Story
His story is pretty simple. He was born in Hawaii by great parents and wanted to pursue football professionally. He received a friend request from Lennay Kakua and accepted the friendship not knowing what it would lead to.
Although, they never met they became boyfriend and girlfriend.
Disclaimer: It doesn’t matter that they never met because people fall in love with people they never met all the time.
They ended up having a long distance relationship that was based on feelings and that they were raised on the life motto of Faith, Family, and Football. They would talk all the time and even his best friend comments on how Lennay did have a really pleasant voice.
The couple grew distant as Manti Te’o grew in popularity as he didn’t have much time for Lennay as she wanted plus she had a secret. She faked her death, but immediately came back. Obviously, he was shook and didn’t know what to do or what to believe and couldn’t process anything that was going on.
The saddest part is how everyone treated him including his family. He didn’t make a mistake, but he was being punished as though he had. The whole ordeal almost killed his NFL career all because he fell for a girl that wasn’t real.
Currently Manti Te’o has a very defined strong jawline, beautiful teeth, the body of a mythical god and is married to Jovi Nicole Engbino.
“Lennay Kakua” — Her Story
Why was it hard for Ronaiah now Naya to be herself? Here is a bit of their background.
Ronaiah Tuiasosopo’s father Titus was a star lineman and tight end at USC. Their cousin, Marques was a part of the Oakland Raiders then there is Marques’ father who played for the Seahawks and the 49ers. Oh, and their other cousin, Zach played for the University of Washington.
Can you feel the pressure?
Naya knew they were attracted to men and that was unacceptable due to their family values. They decided to create an online version of themself that better fit them. This was when the creation of Lennay Kakua began. Everything was Ronaiah, except the pictures were of a friend named Diane.
She does become mutual friends with some people that know Manti Te’o to which made her seem more real when Manti went out asking people about her. I did love the part where she is helping him so much that she ended up somewhat liking Football again. It also made me go “Well no wonder he fell for her. She knows football and she’s giving him the best advice!”
She ends up making up a story about having leukemia, being in a fatal car accident in which Manti would call her every day to see how she was doing to eventually faking her own death to come back to life!
My thoughts — She tried to get out of the fake relationship so many times, but failed because she was so used to being Lennay.
Currently Naya seems to be doing better now that she has accepted who she really is.
The Netflix Story
There were some very sad and some entertaining moments, but I don’t want to tell the whole story here so that you have to watch the documentary. The story itself doesn’t become a story until Timothy Burke who has ties to the Anonymous Group, from the media outlet, Deadspin, looked into Manti Te’o’s claims and realized that there is essentially no information on this Lennay Kakua person which is why the documentary is titled The Girlfriend Who Didn’t Exist.
The Media’s Story
This was fucking baffling, ridiculous, and complete fuckery. Seeing Anderson Cooper and all of his mainstream reporter friends chalking it up to Manti simply being gay.
First of all why make a girlfriend in the first place? Why bring up that his girlfriend died which would only bring more attention to him? The idea that a college football player would do all this publicly for the media to rip him apart is asinine.
Especially saying that this is a gay cover up didn’t make sense because the entire time he legitimately believes he is talking to a woman.
Deadspin, although their intentions were to showcase their superior journalism skills they failed as well because Manti Te’o was not behind this “hoax”. He was someone trying to figure out how to explain the situation he got himself into by merely falling for someone he believed to be real.
How do you explain this to the world without being ridiculed? The memes were cruel and I refuse to display any in this post but I do find it funny how everyone has a nonexistent girlfriend now. Not only do they have non-existent girlfriends they pay them as well.
They’re called onlyfans girls.
Oh, wait there’s more
The outrage towards Naya from the family and even present day is outstanding. Manti Te’o’s mom’s hatred is seething and felt when she says she hates Ronaiah. His uncle and I am sure others wanted Ronaiah to be arrested for being a fraud.
If Ronaiah now Naya was doing this to purposely ruin the family, to con him or his family or have any malicious intentions I would agree. This is simply someone who wanted to feel what it was like to be cared for. They never meant for it to go this far nor did they expect all of what happened to actually happen. How could anyone foresee that?
You can tell that Naya is definitely ashamed of it all because it will not only haunt her, but Manti Te’o and the world.
Despite, the catfish tale being rather boring when compared to other stories it is now a pop-culture reference which makes it unforgettable.
My Highlights From The Girlfriend Who Didn’t Exist Documentary
- When Lennay “passed away” was Manti Te’o going to the funeral? Did that discussion ever happen or did Lennay confessing that she was still alive happen right after? While researching I did find out that he did plan to attend the funeral, but was told that Lennay insisted that he never miss anything football related.
- The media’s fascination with lazy reporting.
- Seeing old school Facebook.
- Dr. Phil. Especially, when he finds out Lennay’s voice along with Naya’s commentary about the experience. This is probably my favorite moment.
- Manti forgiving himself.
- Seeing Naya being herself at the end.
What Are Your Thoughts?
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