Crystal Mangum, whose 2006 allegations against three Duke University lacrosse players led to a national scandal, has recently admitted to fabricating her story and publicly apologized to the men she falsely accused. Mangum, who is currently serving a prison sentence for second-degree murder, appeared on the Let’s Talk with Kat podcast hosted by Katerena DePasquale to offer her apology.
In the interview, taped at the North Carolina Correctional Institution for Women, Mangum acknowledged that her false accusations were driven by a desire for validation. She admitted, “I made up a story that wasn’t true because I wanted validation from people and not from God.” She further expressed remorse, saying, “I want them to know that I love them, and they didn’t deserve that, and I hope that they can forgive me.”
Mangum had previously maintained her version of the events, even writing in her 2008 memoir that she wouldn’t deny something happened that night, though the details of her story were inconsistent. In 2007, after an investigation revealed the lack of DNA evidence linking the accused players to the crime, North Carolina Attorney General Roy Cooper declared the men innocent. Despite this, Mangum was never charged with perjury, with Cooper suggesting that she may have truly believed her changing accounts.
The accusations, made while Mangum was working as an adult entertainer at a party at the Duke lacrosse players’ house, caused significant disruption. The players, David Evans, Collin Finnerty, and Reade Seligmann, were initially indicted based on Mangum’s allegations, which claimed they had sexually assaulted her. However, DNA evidence failed to link them to the crime, and they were later exonerated. The case led to the cancellation of the 2006 Duke lacrosse season, the firing of the coach, and widespread public outrage.
In the podcast episode, Mangum expressed her desire to make amends, acknowledging that the lacrosse players did not deserve the harm caused by her false statements. “It’s been on my heart to do a public apology,” she said. “I hope that [the accused lacrosse players] can heal and trust God and know that God loves them and that God is loving them through me, letting them know that they’re valuable.”
The three men eventually settled the case out of court for an undisclosed amount, though they continued to fight to clear their names. Mangum’s apology now comes years after the legal resolution of the case, and while the damage caused by her accusations cannot be undone, it marks a significant moment of personal reflection and public acknowledgment of her falsehoods.