Paul Haggis Has Been Accused Of Rape And He’s Blaming The Church Of Scientology
Paul Haggis is the Oscar-winning writer (and director) of Best Picture winner Crash (aka Racism Is Bad), and his latest credit is as the defendant in a civil suit filed by a Manhattan publicist who claims he raped her. Since Haleigh Breest filed the suit last month, three more women have come forward with their own stories to tell. One of the alleged victims is also accusing Haggis of rape and the other two are claiming he tried to force his lips on their lips without the ok. Haggis’ response? Since quitting Scientology in 2009, he’s been extremely vocal about how the COS is an abusive cult. He’s saying the Scientologists have set him up to look like the latest Hollywood perv.
The Sabbath wouldn’t be complete without the grimy details, via Page Six. The accusers are being referred to for the time being as “Jane Does.” Jane Doe 1 is a publicist who worked with Haggis on a tv show in 1996. She says that Haggis “attacked” her in her office, and threatened her career. That’s when he allegedly raped her. Look – adorable baby owls! (We all need something to cleanse our mind palates after this alleged mess.)
Jane Doe 2 claims she was pitching a tv show to him in 2008 when Haggis voiced his belief that “I need to be inside you.” He then allegedly followed this admission up by trying to kiss her. She says that she managed to avoid the liplock. Jane Doe 3, who says she met Haggis at a film festival in 2015, wasn’t so lucky. She’s alleging that Haggis got handsy when he invited her to his hotel room to discuss screenwriting. The accuser says that Haggis “grabbed her and forcibly tried to kiss her.” Jane Doe 3 made her way out of there and into a taxi but claims that Haggis got in with her and began “restraining her arms.” Yikes. Jane Doe 3 says she fought him off and fled said taxi. What the eff was the driver doing? “Just don’t throw up on the seats, kids!”
Haggis a staunch supporter of what we’ll call the “Leah Remini Will Destroy Scientology!” movement. He hasn’t held back with his tales of what it’s like to have to deal with the terrible twosome of Miscavige & Cruise lording it over your life. And he was a celebrity! They don’t make the celebrities scrub ships wiht toothbrushes! Imagine if he was a mere Scientolo-citizen? Scientology is infamous for very sketchy revenge tactics, and Haggis (via his lawyer) says that this is just the latest.
Haggis’ lawyer, Christine Lepera, said, “Mr. Haggis denies these anonymous claims in whole. In a society where one of a person’s fundamental rights is the ability to confront an accuser, that right has now been eviscerated when it comes to anyone being charged in the press with any sort of sexual misconduct . . . Mr. Haggis also questions whether Scientology has any role here, which he notes has been attacking him for years with false accusations.”
Concerning Haleigh Breest’s civil suit, Page Six says that Haggis initially sued her for extortion. She clapped back with the suit claiming he raped her in his Soho apartment in 2013. She’s also amended her complaint to include the other women who’ve come forward, claiming that this demonstrates that “Mr. Haggis is a serial predator, who has repeatedly hurt women and who is sexually excited by women’s fear and pain.” Look – cute mini-pigs!
As for Haggis blaming the L. Ron Hubbards, Breest’s lawyer’s eye-roll can be felt via his rebuttal.
Breest’s attorney, Ilann M. Maazel, said, “They are grasping at straws. But don’t be fooled. Ms. Breest has nothing whatsoever to do with Scientology. This case has nothing whatsoever to do with Scientology. It has everything to do with Paul Haggis.”
Whoo, boy. Let’s end this post with baby goats! Baby goats are probably the cutest of all the cute animals. They even have baby goat yoga. Hopefully some of these links are helping get you over this nasty post.
Pic: WENN