Reposted from They Did What?!, which you can find now or very soon at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcastica.com/podcast/they-did-what⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ — In this episode, Kelsey and Gen, along with guest host, Guy, discuss Untold: The Girlfriend Who Didn’t Exist, released on Netflix in 2022 and directed by Ryan Duffy and Tony Vainuku, tells the story of Manti Te’o, a Notre Dame football star whose rise to national fame became tangled up in one of the most bizarre catfishing scandals in sports history.

In 2012, during his senior season, Manti lost his grandmother and his girlfriend within hours of each other. Instead of crumbling, he dedicated his season to them, the sports world rallied behind him, and he helped carry Notre Dame to the national championship while finishing as a Heisman finalist.

Then in January 2013, it was revealed that Manti’s girlfriend never existed.

Cue media speculation about his involvement, what he knew, and even his sexuality. What started as a heartfelt story about love and loss quickly unraveled into something much stranger, raising questions about identity, media narratives, and how easily a lie can take on a life of its own.

Coming Up:

Untold: The Death and Life of Lamar Odom (2026)

Where Are They Now:

Manti Te’o

Nov. 2025 - Harpers Bazaar

⁠https://harpersbazaar.com.au/everything-you-need-to-know-about-manti-teo-from-netflix-documentary/⁠

NayaTui

⁠https://www.instagram.com/nayatui/⁠

Find our special guest Guy Bensing over at the BlueNote Fan Report!

https://www.youtube.com/c/BlueNoteFanReport

To hear your comments on the show:

Send us an e-mail or voice message to theydidwhat@podcastica.com

Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theydidwhat

Find us on Instagram: @TDW.Podcast

Connect with us on Podcastica’s discord, or look out for our episode comment posts on facebook.com/groups/podcastica !

Waiting for our next episode? Leave us a rating or review wherever you get your podcasts and help more people find us to join the fun! Then explore other great shows in the Podcastica network at podcastica.com!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices