Comedian Steve Rannazzisi, known for his role in the show "The League," fabricated a story of surviving the September 11, 2001, attacks on the World Trade Center, a lie that significantly influenced his early career. Rannazzisi claimed he was a desk clerk on the 54th floor of the South Tower and escaped just before the second plane hit, later recounting vivid details of the event.

The Narrative and Its Rise

In interviews during the late 2000s, Rannazzisi shared his harrowing account, stating he was working for Merrill Lynch in the South Tower. He described running down the stairs and exiting the building just moments before the second plane struck, watching the fireball from the street. He claimed this traumatic experience inspired him to leave the financial industry and pursue a career in comedy in Los Angeles. This narrative, repeated in various forms, helped him gain attention and establish his comedic persona, with fellow comedians even nicknaming him "T2" for "Tower Two."

By September 2015, Rannazzisi's fabricated story had contributed to a solid career, including a forthcoming comedy special, an advertising deal with Buffalo Wild Wings, and his role as Kevin McHale on "The League."

Exposure and Admission

The truth came to light in September 2015 when The New York Times published an article exposing Rannazzisi's 9/11 account as false. In a statement at the time, Rannazzisi admitted, "I told people that I was in one of the World Trade Center towers on 9/11. It wasn't true." He later explained on The Howard Stern Show that he invented the story to "fit in" and "make friends" in Los Angeles, but the lie grew to a point where he felt unable to confess.

In reality, Rannazzisi was working as a recruiter in Midtown Manhattan, more than 50 blocks north of the World Trade Center, on the day of the attacks. Merrill Lynch also confirmed it had no record of his employment and no offices in the towers.

Consequences and Public Reaction

Following the revelation, Rannazzisi faced significant repercussions. Buffalo Wild Wings, a major sponsor, immediately pulled all commercials featuring the actor. However, FX Networks, which aired "The League," continued to support him, citing his sincerity in his apology and commitment to making amends. Rannazzisi appeared in the show's final season.

His Comedy Central special, "Breaking Dad," also debuted shortly after his confession. Rannazzisi expressed particular remorse to comedian Pete Davidson, whose father, a firefighter, died on 9/11. Davidson reportedly accepted Rannazzisi's apology.

Psychologists have commented on the phenomenon of such fabrications. Dr. Drew Curtis, specializing in pathological lying, suggested that people may lie to gain attention, which is a powerful reinforcement. Jean Kim, a psychologist, classified Rannazzisi as a "conscious" pathological liar who sought secondary gain for his burgeoning career. Christopher Chabris, a psychologist focused on false memories, noted that while Rannazzisi's story evolved similarly to how memories can change, his lies were driven by a "need for recognition and acceptance" rather than false memory. He added that the fabricated 9/11 story served as a compelling narrative catalyst for Rannazzisi's career shift.

Rannazzisi has since moved back to Long Island and primarily performs stand-up comedy, making appearances on podcasts and personalized fan videos. Despite his admissions and apologies, the fallout from his elaborate deception has significantly impacted his television and film career, which has largely been dormant since 2020. His publicist at the time also described an error on his website stating he graduated from SUNY Purchase instead of SUNY Oneonta as an oversight.

More than a decade after his lie was exposed, Rannazzisi continues to navigate the consequences of his actions, which he has called "inexcusable" and "profoundly disrespectful" to the victims and their families.