Untold: The Girlfriend Who Didn't Exist (2022)

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


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