A woman who made false rape accusations against American lacrosse players has confessed to lying.

In 2006, a woman named Crystal Mangum made a false accusation that three Duke University lacrosse players had raped her. This caused a huge stir in the media and sparked conversations about race, class, and the privilege of being a college athlete. However, after years of maintaining her story, Mangum has finally come forward and admitted that she made the whole thing up.

During an interview with the "Let's Talk with Kat" podcast, Mangum, who is Black, confessed that she fabricated the story because she wanted validation from people rather than from God. She explained that she had been hired to perform as a stripper at a party attended by white players, and she made the false accusation in order to seek attention and approval from others.

"I testified falsely against them by saying that they raped me when they didn't, and that was wrong," Mangum, now 46, shared in the interview, which was released on Monday. The interview was recorded at the North Carolina Correctional Institution for Women, where Mangum is currently serving time for fatally stabbing her boyfriend in 2011.

In 2007, the former Duke players were declared innocent after Mangum's story fell apart under legal scrutiny. The state attorney general's office found no credible evidence of an attack and concluded that Mangum's story was not true. This caused an enormous amount of damage to the accused men, who were wrongfully vilified as "racially motivated rapists" on a national scale.

The Durham prosecutor who championed Mangum's case was disbarred for lying and misconduct, and she never faced charges for the false accusations. The former lacrosse players also reached a settlement with Duke University for their handling of the rape allegations.

Mangum, who is eligible for release from prison in 2026, expressed her remorse for what she had done and said that she hopes the three falsely accused men can forgive her. "I want them to know that I love them and they didn't deserve that," she said.

Kat DePasquale, the host of the podcast, shared that she reached out to Mangum because she was curious about the case that had received so much attention. Mangum responded and expressed her willingness to talk about her experiences.

Jim Cooney, one of the former players' lawyers at the time, believes that Mangum's apology was sincere and a good first step, but ultimately, it is up to the three men to decide if they can forgive her. He also noted that this false accusation will always be a part of their lives and legacies.

The truth behind this false accusation has finally been revealed, but the impact it had on the lives of those involved will never be forgotten. It is a reminder of the destructive power of lies and the importance of seeking the truth before passing judgment.

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