Steve Rannazzisi on ‘Howard Stern’: 'League' Star Explains 9/11 Lie

Earlier in September, it was reported that The League star Steve Rannazzisi lied about being in the 9/11 attacks in New York City back in 2001. After it was discovered by The New York Times that his story was a total fabrication, he came clean and profusely apologized on social media. And on Tuesday, Rannazzisi stopped by the Howard Stern radio show to explain himself further.

Calling what he did a "dumb mistake," the comedian admitted that it hit a "wound that should have never been touched."

He further described that the lie came to be when he moved out to Los Angeles from New York and found himself hanging around the famed Comedy Store. Once people realized he was from NYC, he began getting asked specific questions about the attack. Eventually, he claimed that he was in one of the buildings when it all went down.

Which, of course, wasn't true.

 Now on the #Howard Stern Show: Steve Rannazzisi

A photo posted by Howard Stern Show (@sternshow) on Oct 6, 2015 at 5:29am PDT

Rannazzisi told the America's Got Talent judge that you have "15 seconds" to come clean on a lie. Once it's beyond that point, it becomes "a thing" and you're forever known as that guy.

Stern then brought up the fact that Rannazzisi's wife lied about it as well. After a second of either guilt or the realization that what he did was a really crappy thing to do, he told the famed DJ, "She had to. She had no choice."

Rannazzisi has been mum for quite some time since the admission, but admits that he came on The Howard Stern Show because he felt Stern "personifies" New York City, and therefore, felt he should do his first interview after coming clean there.

Take a look at some audio obtained by TMZ here. And for more of the interview, take a look at the Howard Stern radio program site.