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Laura Albert Versus Savannah Knoop: Who Is the Real Fake JT LeRoy?
Laura Albert, the real writer who published books under the adopted fake persona of drug-addicted teen prostitute JT LeRoy, is outraged today over the upcoming book from Savannah Knoop, the actress she hired to play LeRoy in public appearances. In Girl Boy Girl: How I Became JT LeRoy, Knoop will tell the story of how she wore a wig and sunglasses, pretended to be a boy, and partied with hip celebrities like Courtney Love, Dennis Cooper, and Gus Van Sant — basically all the fun parts of the JT LeRoy story. “I am not in any way connected with this book and it disgusts me. Just because you play a writer doesn’t mean you are a writer,†Albert tells “Page Six.†“[I]t’s disgusting they’re using celebrity names to sell it. I’m not interested in making a career of JT, I’m an artist,†she says, presumably because her own book about the actual fake writing would be way less interesting than Knoop’s, about playing dress-up and going to parties with famous people.
LEROY HOAXERS IN FALLING-OUT [NYP]
Related: Who is the Real JT LeRoy? [NYM]