Couric lands on-air interview with Te'o
Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te'o has agreed to an on-camera interview with Katie Couric to be broadcast Thursday on her syndicated show "Katie."
ABC made the announcement Sunday but offered no details on when and where the interview will take place with Te'o and Couric, a special correspondent for the network.
The man alleged to have been the mastermind of the hoax, 22-year-old Ronaiah Tuiasosopo, also might speak to the media this week, his uncle told reporters in Lancaster, Calif.
"The family is strong," Peter "Navy" Tuiasosopo said, according to the Los Angeles Times. "The family will stay together."
Ronaiah Tuiasosopo's father, Pastor Titus Tuiasosopo, thanked his Lancaster congregation Sunday for the support it showed to his family.
Te'o discussed the girlfriend hoax story Friday night with ESPN's Jeremy Schaap, but he would not allow the two-hour session to be taped for broadcast.
The All-American's parents, Brian and Ottilia, will join him for his first on-air interview since the alleged "catfishing" hoax became public last week.
The New York Times reported that Oprah Winfrey, one week removed from her sitdown with Lance Armstrong, also wanted to interview Te'o.
Couric will offer previews of the Te'o interview this week on ABC's "Good Morning America" and "Nightline," USA Today reported.
In the interview with Schaap, Te'o said he had fudged several details of the story about a girlfriend who had leukemia, Lennay Kekua, that didn't exist but added that he was never a part of the scheme.
Notre Dame has backed Te'o, saying an investigation determined that he was the victim of an elaborate hoax.
