Crystal Mangum, the woman whose false 2006 rape accusations against three Duke University lacrosse players ignited a national debate on race, class, and privilege, has publicly admitted for the first time that she fabricated the story.
In an interview on the podcast Let’s Talk with Kat, Mangum, who is Black, confessed that she made up the allegations against the white players to seek “validation from people and not from God.”
“I testified falsely against them by saying that they raped me when they didn’t, and that was wrong,” the 46-year-old said. The interview, recorded at the North Carolina Correctional Institution for Women where Mangum is serving time for a 2011 fatal stabbing, was released on Monday.
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The three former Duke lacrosse players were declared innocent in 2007 after Mangum’s claims unraveled under legal scrutiny. The state attorney general’s office found no credible evidence of an attack, and its investigation uncovered no DNA, witness testimony, or other supporting evidence.
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The case had significant fallout, including the disbarment of Durham prosecutor Mike Nifong for lying and misconduct in his handling of the case. While Mangum was not charged for her false accusations, the players later reached an undisclosed settlement with Duke University for its handling of the situation.
Mangum expressed remorse during the podcast, stating that she hopes the men can forgive her. “I want them to know that I love them and they didn’t deserve that,” she said.
The podcast host, Kat DePasquale, said she initiated the conversation out of curiosity about the case and was surprised when Mangum responded, expressing a desire to share her side of the story. Mangum, convicted of second-degree murder in 2013, is eligible for release as early as 2026.
