As Mary Kay Letourneau developed a relationship with Vili Fualaau, the closeness between teacher and student became increasingly disturbing to colleagues, neighbors, and family, who noticed them spending an increasing amount of time together and engaging in intimate behavior, such as slow dancing. In the summer after sixth grade, Letourneau reportedly began raping Fualaau, but according to New York magazine, she seemed to view their relationship as one between equals. "He dominated me in the most masculine way that any man, any leader, could do," she said. (Keep in mind, he was 12 and she was 34 years old at the time.)

Letourneau claimed the illegality of the relationship never crossed her mind. Her primary concern was if Fualaau's mother would be angry. "I definitely knew that it was bizarre," Letourneau said in an interview with Barbara Walters. "...I didn't know that getting into a relationship — a sexually intimate relationship — I didn't know that was a felony or a crime. I knew it wasn't right. I mean, Vili and I loved each other. And still do."