A former North Carolina high school football star accused of raping a classmate is taking his story to “Dr. Phil.”
WLOS-TV reported that former East Henderson athlete Matthew Bishop is going to be part of a two-part episode on the nationally syndicated talk show.
The episode is titled “Football Star Accused: Did He Do It? The Alleged Victim Speaks Out” and is planned to air next week.
Dr. Phil interviews Bishop, his family and the girl he is accused of sexually assaulting at a party last December.
Seventeen-year-olds Tyler Scott Garren, Justin Wesley Ponder, Vincent Joseph Curto and Bishop were in their junior year at East Henderson High last fall when the incident allegedly occurred.
The teens admitted to having sex with the alleged victim, but said it was consensual. Bishop is the only suspect appearing on the show.
“She knew exactly what she was doing,” Bishop replied, when Dr. Phil said the girl was legally drunk, according to a clip of the show.
Garren, Ponder and Bishop were on the football team. The alleged victim was a 16-year-old classmate of the boys.
School officials told BlueRidgeNow.com that the students involved are no longer enrolled in the Henderson County Public School system.
“Everyone shunned me at school because I took away their star football players,” the alleged victim told Dr. Phil, in an online clip.
Brooke Watson, a friend of the alleged victim, said she understands why she went on the show.
“She’s a very nice girl,” Watson said. “She walks so different now – she’s so sad – and lonely – it really hurts.”
Some people in Hendersonville said putting the case on TV is a bad idea, saying the decision was for monetary reasons or attention.
Read more: BlueRidgeNow.com and WLOS-TV
