Early Start's new website
What really happened in Manti Te'o girlfriend hoax? Ted Rowlands has the latest
(CNN) - Now, this is a weird one.
On Wednesday, Manti Te'o was a well-liked college football star. A day later, he was the butt of the latest Internet fad - posting pictures of yourself with your arm around an imaginary girlfriend. They call it "Te'oing."
The nation was abuzz Thursday with talk of Te'o after the sports website Deadspin reported Wednesday that the girlfriend Te'o said died as his team marched toward the BCS National Championship Game not only didn't die - she never existed.
Te'o, 21, said Wednesday that he'd been tricked into an online relationship that ended with him being told the woman had died from leukemia. He said he'd been taken in by a "sick joke."
Notre Dame said Te'o was the victim of an "elaborate hoax."
But many fans, sports experts and media critics took to the airwaves and the Internet, questioning that someone could pull the wool over Te'o's eyes for so long, and saying he had to be in on it.
This morning on "Early Start," CNN's Ted Rowlands reports on the latest in the Manti Te'o girlfriend hoax.
READ MORE: Fans question what is behind Te'o girlfriend hoax
On Twitter
soundoff (No Responses)