The exotic dancer who once accused three Duke University lacrosse players of raping her admitted this week that she made up the 2006 allegations that sparked a heated national conversation about gender, race and class.

Crystal Mangum, now in prison for second-degree murder, said she “made up a story that wasn’t true” against former defendants David Evans, Collin Finnerty and Reade Seligmann, who “didn’t deserve this.” “

“I falsely testified against them by saying that they raped me when they didn’t, and that was wrong,” she told “Let’s Talk with Kat” in an interview published this week ” by podcaster Kate Katerena.

“I betrayed the trust of many other people who believed in me and made up a story that wasn’t true because I wanted validation from people and not from God, and that was wrong even though God already loved me so much , as I was.”

Mangum and another dancer were hired to perform at a party hosted by Duke lacrosse players on March 13, 2006.

She claimed that players raped her in blockbuster allegations that touched on hot topics such as sex work, race and class.

Charges against the players were eventually dropped, but it later emerged that Durham County District Attorney Mike Nifong had withheld evidence from defense attorneys that could have cleared the men much sooner. The public prosecutor was removed from office in 2007.

“That night, Reade Seligmann, Collin Finnerty and Dave Evans took me into their home and trusted (me),” Mangum said at the North Carolina Correctional Facility for Women.

“The Bible says not to harm your neighbor…and they were my brothers, and they trusted me not to betray their trust.”

The 46-year-old said she was “looking for validation” when she made up the lies and now hopes the former Duke players can one day accept her apology.

“I hurt my brothers,” she said. “I want them to know that I love them and that they don’t deserve it, and I hope that they can forgive me.”

Mangum was convicted of second-degree murder in 2013 for fatally stabbing her boyfriend, Reginald Daye, on April 3, 2011. She was sentenced to more than 14 years in prison.

She is scheduled to be released on February 27, 2026, according to North Carolina prison records.

Evans, Seligmann and Finnerty did not immediately respond to phone, text and email messages seeking comment Friday.