LANCASTER, Calif. (KTLA) — The woman whose image was used in the fake girlfriend hoax involving Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te’o is speaking out for the first time.
Diane O’Meara, a 23-year-old m
arketing executive from Lancaster, says that the was a victim, too — a victim of identity theft.
O’Meara had never heard of Te’o until last week.
She did go to high school in the Antelope Valley with Ronaiah Tuiasosopo, the man believed to be behind the elaborate hoax.
“It’s very bizarre, and it’s a very twisted and confusing scenario,” O’Meara told NBC’s Miguel Almaguer in a segment that aired on the “Today” show Tuesday.
“I’ve never met Manti Te’o in my entire life. I’ve never spoken with him. I’ve never exchanged words, tweets.”
Last week, Deadspin.com broke the story that Teo’s girlfriend, who supposedly died within hours of his grandmother back in September, never actually existed.
Tuiasosopo has yet to speak publicly about the allegations, but O’Meara said he has apologized to her.
“The past five years, he has literally been stalking my Facebook and stealing my photos,” O’Meara said on “Today.”
“Ronny has called and not only confessed, but he has also apologized. But I don’t think there’s anything he could say to me that would fix this.”
7 Comments to “Woman Used in Te’o Hoax Pictures Speaks Out”
January 23, 2013 at 9:46 AM
nobody cares about her, go away, NOT NEWS.
January 31, 2013 at 8:05 AM
U GAY?
January 23, 2013 at 10:13 AM
If you think Peter`s story is flabbergasting…, 2 weaks-ago my mum's girl friend basically also made the small fortune of $9581 sitting there a thirteen hour week in their apartment and the're co-worker's half-sister`s neighbour did this for nine months and got a cheque for over $9581 in their spare time on line. the steps from this website, http://xurl.es/80xda
January 23, 2013 at 2:23 PM
IMHO she is lying. With ALL of the security measures Facebook has had in place in the last few years, her pix & page could NOT be stalked!! Hell, all she had to do was set her profile to friends only, defriend Ronnaiah, put a block on him & report him to Facebook. I had someone try the same thing, and these were the measures I was told to use when reported to Facebook. So THEREFORE Diane O’Meara, as I stated before, IMHO, was quite a willing participant!!!
Not to mention, WHY HIRE an attorney, have him make statements to the press & then come out to the press AFTER her attorney & say exactly the same thing he did? Just cuz she went to a Catholic HS doesn’t mean she’s a good Christian!! Hell, she went to school with Ronnaiah, the hoax’s perpetrator!!
January 30, 2013 at 1:57 PM
The guy who stole the pictures was in love with Manti Te'o himself. Yep, that is what happened here.