The best picture Oscar winner Paul Haggis, known for his movies 'Million Dollar Baby' and 'Crash,' is now facing sexual assault charges.
Paul Haggis forced a young foreign woman to have sex with him for two days in Ostuni, then took her to the airport and left her
According to the police statement, Airport staff gave first aid to the victim, then transported her to a hospital, Italy's 'pink protocol' for rape victims was carried out, and later the victim filed charges against Paul Haggis
On June 19, the director Paul Haggis was detained on charges of sexual assault and aggravated personal injury in the Southern Italian town of Ostuni.
In her statement, Paul Haggis's attorney Priya Chaudhry said she could not discuss the evidence as per Italian Law. Still, she is confident that all allegations pressed against Paul Haggis will be dismissed as he is innocent and very cooperative with the authorities so that the truth will come out quickly.
As the Oscar-winning director came to Italy for a series of 6 days of master classes at Allora Fest that commences on June 21 and ends by June 26. Event organizers of Master classes canceled the program after learning about Paul Haggis's alleged sexual violence.
This is not the first such allegation for Paul Haggis; in 2017, Publicist Haleigh Breest filed a civil lawsuit claiming he raped her in 2013, and for which Paul Haggis countersued by denying the allegation claiming she demanded a $9 million as a settlement.
Paul Haggis responded to Haleigh Breest's lawsuit that the sexual interactions between him and Haleigh Breast were consensual, and he denied forcing her to give him oral without her consent
Haleigh Breest's case inspired another three women who claimed sexual assault and harassment by the director, as all of these took place between 1996 to 2015.
However, no one filed any legal action against him, and his lawyer denied stating those are anonymous claims.
For more stories like this
Explore our website