NEW: Woman Who Accused Duke Lacrosse Team Of Rape Comes Clean, Admits She Lied

Nearly two decades after one of the most infamous cases of false accusation in modern sports history, Crystal Mangum, the woman who accused members of the Duke University lacrosse team of rape in 2006, has publicly admitted that she lied.

Speaking from the North Carolina Correctional Institution for Women, where she is serving time for an unrelated conviction, Mangum broke her silence in an interview with the independent media outlet Let’s Talk With Kat. The confession marks the first time Mangum has publicly acknowledged that her claims were untrue—a revelation that reignites painful memories of a case that upended lives and cast a long shadow over Durham, North Carolina.

For Mangum, the decision to speak out appeared to come from a place of self-reflection and faith. “They were my brothers, and they trusted me that I wouldn’t betray their trust,” Mangum said in the interview. “And I testified falsely against them by saying that they raped me when they didn’t, and that was wrong. I betrayed the trust of a lot of other people who believed in me and made up a story that wasn’t true because I wanted validation from people and not from God.”

Her voice, at times unsteady, carried through the interview as she took ownership of the false accusations that ensnared the lives of three young men—Reade Seligmann, Collin Finnerty, and David Evans—who were members of Duke’s lacrosse team at the time.

WATCH:

Mangum’s confession arrives years too late for the three players, whose lives were deeply affected by the false allegations. Yet her words reflect a newfound sense of accountability. “I hurt my brothers, and I hope that they can forgive me,” Mangum continued. “I want them to know that I love them, and they didn’t deserve that.”

The case began in March 2006, when Mangum, then an exotic dancer, alleged that she was sexually assaulted at a team party where she had been hired to perform. The ensuing media firestorm, compounded by statements from public officials and amplified by a national conversation on race, class, and privilege, turned the case into a cultural flashpoint. The accusations unraveled under scrutiny, however, and in 2007, the North Carolina Attorney General declared the three players innocent, calling Mangum’s claims a “tragedy” and a “rushingly unfair” ordeal.

The interview, filmed on November 13th, was released with a preamble from the host, Kat, who urged viewers to approach Mangum’s words with an open mind. “I wanted to understand how they persevere and the reasons behind their choices,” Kat said in a statement. “I was struck by her openness and thoughtful honesty—qualities I found deeply relatable.”

The three Duke players were thrust into the national spotlight, and their reputations were sullied despite their maintaining their innocence. For many, the case was a cautionary tale of a rush to judgment in the absence of evidence. It also revealed critical flaws in the legal system, as then-District Attorney Mike Nifong pursued charges despite mounting inconsistencies in Mangum’s account. Nifong was later disbarred for his handling of the case.

Mangum’s journey since the scandal has been marked by continued legal troubles. In 2013, she was convicted of second-degree murder in the stabbing death of her boyfriend and sentenced to 14 to 18 years in prison. Her current admission, while late, may mark a turning point in her personal reckoning with the past. “I already had validation,” Mangum said in the interview, referencing her faith. “I just didn’t know it. I didn’t need to seek validation from anyone else because God already loved me for who I was.”

The case gripped the nation at the time, prompting debates that reached far beyond Durham. Now, Mangum’s confession adds a final, sobering chapter to the saga.

(VOTE: Should JD Vance Run For President In 2028?)