JT LeRoy
publication date: Thursday, August 13, 2020 (part of Summer 2020)
category: 
Hoaxes
clue: For a Gen-X novelist concerned with deceit in the hearts of fictional characters, he (she?) sure went to a lot of trouble to commit deceit in public appearances as a fictional author.
explanation: Laura Albert wrote the books Sarah and The Heart is Deceitful Above All Things under the pseudonym JT LeRoy. The popularity of the books led her to take the persona public, making phone calls as LeRoy, having her sibling make public appearances as LeRoy, and signing contracts under the pen name that were later ruled invalid in court. Controversy erupted when the truth was uncovered. more…
intended difficulty: hard
solved by: Russ Wilhelm, Steve West, LaVonne Lemler, Samir Mehta, Chris Lemler, Denise Sawicki, and Erik Bates
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