The JT Leroy literary hoax
by Steffani MartinFiled under: Fraud and Deception, Literary Hoaxes, The History of Pranks
From Steffani Martin:
Author JT Leroy
hoaxed many people with “autobiographical” novels and stories based on his tragic youth as a transvestite prostitute. He got the sympathy of many famous people, and some hot book and movie deals until it came out that “he” is a middle class woman who made it all up to gain publicity for her career in the rock music business.
Warren St. James, of The New York Times exposed the hoax (see article below) as did New York Metro.com writer Stephen Beachy (also available from Susie Bright’s blog). Susie Bright discusses the hoax further here. (more…)