Boxing superstar Oscar De La Hoya has finally admitted he posed in a wig, high heels, and ladies' lingerie for photos he previously claimed were altered and paid $20 million to cover up, according to a Spanish-language interview with Univision.
When the photos with model Milana Dravnel first leaked in 2007, the world-famous boxer, often dubbed "the golden boy," originally claimed they had been altered to include his likeness, but now says he posed for them while high on alcohol and cocaine, reports the New York Post. De La Hoya, who has been sober since May, finally admitted the truth Tuesday, saying he contemplated suicide at the time.
"Let me tell you, yes, yes, it was me [in those pictures]," he now says. "I am tired now of lying, of lying to the public and of lying to myself."
In 2007, De La Hoya attempted to discredit Dravnel's photos, so she filed a federal lawsuit against him, claiming that the boxer's representatives deceived her into agreeing that the photos were manipulated.
They eventually settled the lawsuit out of court with a confidentiality agreement.
But, according to the Post, "courthouse sources confirmed Wednesday that De La Hoya paid $20 million to buy her silence. The deal also called for her to give back the heels, lingerie, and fishnets that she kept after their kinky photo session."