Manti Te’o gives interview to Jeremy Schaap after girlfriend hoax scandal (Photos)

On Jan. 18, 2013, it was confirmed by ESPN that Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te’o is giving an interview to reporter Jeremy Schaap after a bizarre girlfriend hoax went public just days before, according to NBC Sports.

ESPN released a photo on Twitter showing Schaap, Te’o, and Te'o’s attorney during the sit down.

The NBC report, written by Michael David Smith, posits it’s logical Te’o would want to tell his side of the story, but strange that the interview is off-camera. In addition, Smith questions why Te’o would have his attorney with him during the chat if he was the innocent victim of a hoax as he claims to be.

Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te'o has conducted an off-camera interview with a TV reporter, according to media reports.

Photo credit: 

(ESPN/Twitter)

View slideshow: Photos of Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te'o, Surrounded by Bizarre Girlfriend Hoax

On Jan. 16, Notre Dame Athletic Director Jack Swarbrick said he is confident the school's linebacker, Manti Te’o, was the victim of an “elaborate, sophisticated hoax” regarding Kekua.

On Jan. 17, the Associated Press reported it had examined Te’o’s media appearances after he and Notre Dame reportedly knew his online love, Lennay Kekua, did not exist and found he spoke about her and her alleged death from leukemia despite the knowledge. This has led some to believe Te'o may have been in on the hoax.