RALEIGH, N.C. (TNND) — Crystal Mangum, the woman who accused three Duke University lacrosse players of raping her in 2006, admitted the allegations were false in a podcast episode released this week.

Mangum told the host about it Let’s talk to Kat She fabricated the rape allegations she made against Reade Seligmann, Collin Finnerty and David Evans.

“That night, my – Reade Seligmann, Collin Finnerty and David Evans – took me into their home and confided – the Bible says you should not harm your neighbor who lives next to you in trust,” Mangum said.

“And they were my brothers, and they trusted me not to betray their trust, and I testified falsely against them, saying that they raped me when they didn’t, and that was false,” she continued.

In 2006, Mangum claimed the players raped her after she arrived at their home. She was working as a stripper at the time. Mangum said she “made up a story that wasn’t true” because she wanted “validation” from people.

“And that was wrong because God already loved me the way I was,” Mangum said. “Still, I didn’t need to seek confirmation from him as I already had confirmation from him. I just didn’t know.”

All charges against the players were dismissed in 2007. Mangum called them her “brothers” and asked for forgiveness.

“I hurt my brothers and I hope they can forgive me. And I want them to know that I love them and that they don’t deserve this,” she said. “And I hope that they can forgive me and that I hope that they can heal and trust God and know that God loves them and that God loves them through me letting them know that they are valuable and that they are didn’t deserve it.”

Mangum is currently serving a prison sentence for the murder of her ex-boyfriend Reginald Daye. She is scheduled to be released from the North Carolina Correctional Facility for Women on February 27, 2026.

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