More than 18 years after Crystal Mangum accused several Duke University lacrosse players of raping her at a team party, she has spoken up, admitting that the whole story was false. It was an early and defining case in the Me Too movement, and it shook the athletic department at Duke to its core.
In a recent interview with “Let’s Talk with Kat” Mangum said, “I made up a story that wasn’t true. The Duke students trusted me that I wouldn’t betray their trust, and I testified falsely against them by saying that they raped me when they didn’t, and that was wrong.”
She continued, “I hope they can forgive me and I want them to know that I love them and that they didn’t deserve that.”
Back in 2006, Mangum accused Dave Evans, Collin Finnerty and Reade Seligmann of raping her after she performed as an exotic dancer at the lacrosse team party. The men were later arrested, the entire lacrosse team’s season was canceled, the coach was fired, and the DA who prosecuted the case was himself prosecuted of criminal contempt and disbarred.
While the three men were ultimately exonerated, it cast a shadow on their lives as they were forced to change schools and live with the unsettling allegations. Throughout the original trial, there was constant doubt surrounding Mangum’s story. The DNA evidence didn’t match and the testimony of fellow party-goers couldn’t corroborate her allegations.
According to CNN, Evans, Finnerty and Seligmann eventually sued Duke University’s president for the mistreatment they faced after Mangum’s accusations. They also settled with the city of Durham for $50,000.
Mangum is currently serving an 18-year sentence for the 2013 murder of her boyfriend. She spoke with “Let’s Talk with Kat,” from the North Carolina Correctional Institution for Women. When posting the filmed interview, Kat wrote, “As in most of my interviews, my goal was to see not just a person, but someone navigating an imperfect system. I wanted to understand how they persevere and the reasons behind their choices. When I reached out to Crystal, she responded with a letter expressing her desire to participate and share something important. We filmed the interview at NCCIW on November 13th. I was struck by her openness and thoughtful honesty—qualities I found deeply relatable. By the end, Crystal shared something significant and vulnerable, despite the risks involved. I respect her courage and hope you will too.”
