Nearly two decades after an infamous ex-stripper's rape accusations against three Duke University lacrosse players ignited a national scandal, she is admitting it was all made up, saying "that was wrong."
In 2006, Crystal Mangum, then an exotic dancer, accused university lacrosse players David Evans, Collin Finnerty, and Reade Seligmann of raping her at a team house party.
The allegations led to a media frenzy, the suspension of the lacrosse season, and significant fallout for the players and university staff.
The case collapsed in 2007 when North Carolina Attorney General Roy Cooper exonerated the players, declaring them innocent and stating the accusations should never have resulted in charges.
In an interview recorded in November 2023 and released on the podcast "Let's Talk with Kat," Mangum admitted for the first time that her accusations were false, Count On News 2 reported.
She said she fabricated the claims in a misguided search for validation and expressed regret for betraying the trust of the accused players.
"They took me into their home," Mangum said. "The Bible says you shouldn't do harm to your neighbor that lives trustingly beside you. They were my brothers and they trusted I wouldn't betray their trust. I testified falsely against them by saying they raped me when they didn't. And that was wrong."
Mangum, who is serving a 14 to 18-year sentence for the 2011 murder of her boyfriend, described the apology as something that had been weighing on her heart for years.
While Mangum's apology might offer some closure, the players have yet to comment publicly on her admission.
Duke University, its athletics department, and other individuals involved in the fallout have also remained silent.
Legal actions related to the case, including settlements with both Duke and the city of Durham, were resolved years ago, and Mangum cannot face perjury charges due to the statute of limitations.
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