Steve Rannazzisi, Star of FX Show ‘The League’ Admits He Lied About 9/11 Story
Steve Rannazzisi, who plays Kevin MacArthur on The League, has admitted he lied about being in the South Tower on 9/11, and released a statement apologizing.
For many years, Rannazzisi had claimed in multiple interviews that he worked on the 54th floor of the South Tower and narrowly escaped after the first plane hit the North Tower. He described in vivid detail about being an account manager working at Merrill Lynch in the second tower at the World Trade Center– a story that was entirely made up. Rannazzisi said as part of his job he would take people out to lunch, and be a general liason. “Until our building got hit with a plane and, the party ended right there,” he said in a 2009 interview with Marc Maron. He claimed he worked in the second tower, shared details with Maron about hearing the Port Authority evacuation announcements and going downstairs to ‘check things out.’ He also described watching the second tower fall from a safe distance. The series of events, he had claimed, inspired him to leave his desk job, move out to Los Angeles, and pursue his comedy dreams because he realized life was too short.
Although Rannazzisi worked in Midtown on that day in 2001, he did not work in the towers or even at Merrill Lynch as he claimed.
Rannazzisi’s publicist released a statement confirming that the story was a lie. “I was not at the Trade Center on that day,” the statement said. “I don’t know why I said this. This was inexcusable. I am truly, truly sorry.”
He also posted a statement on his Twitter account in which he admitted, “For many years, more than anything I have wished that with silence, I could somehow erase a story told by an immature young man. It only made me more ashamed.”
He asks for forgiveness from the victims of 9/11, the loved ones of victims, and from those who love him.
We spoke to Steve back in June about his new special that he was working on. That one hour special, Breaking Dad, which he recorded this summer at the Wilbur Theater in Boston is scheduled to premieres this Saturday on Comedy Central. Comedy Central has not commented on whether the news will affect the premiere date of Rannazzisi’s special.
Buffalo Wild Wings says they were are current re-evaluating their relationship with Steve “pending a review of all the facts.”
As a young man, I made a mistake that I deeply regret and for which apologies may still not be enough.
— Stephen Rannazzisi (@SteveRannazzisi) September 16, 2015
After I moved with my wife to Los Angeles from New York City in 2001 shortly after 9/11, I told people that I was in one of the World Trade
— Stephen Rannazzisi (@SteveRannazzisi) September 16, 2015
Center towers on 9/11. It wasn’t true. I was in Manhattan but working in a building in midtown and I was not at the Trade Center on that day
— Stephen Rannazzisi (@SteveRannazzisi) September 16, 2015
I don’t know why I said this. This was inexcusable. I am truly, truly sorry.
For many years, more than anything, I have wished that, with— Stephen Rannazzisi (@SteveRannazzisi) September 16, 2015
silence, I could somehow erase a story told by an immature young man.It only made me more ashamed. How could I tell my children to be honest
— Stephen Rannazzisi (@SteveRannazzisi) September 16, 2015
when I hadn't come clean about this?
— Stephen Rannazzisi (@SteveRannazzisi) September 16, 2015
it is to the victims of 9/11 and to the people that love them–and the people that love me–that I ask for forgiveness.
— Stephen Rannazzisi (@SteveRannazzisi) September 16, 2015
It was profoundly disrespectful to those who perished and those who lost loved ones. The stupidity and guilt I have felt for many years has
— Stephen Rannazzisi (@SteveRannazzisi) September 16, 2015
not abated. It was an early taste of having a public persona, and I made a terrible mistake.
— Stephen Rannazzisi (@SteveRannazzisi) September 16, 2015
You can listen to audio of Rannazzisi telling the story on Marc Maron’s WTF podcast in 2009. The story begins at 24 minutes and 30 seconds.
