Paul Haggis Says Scientologists Are Behind Sexual Misconduct Claims
Paul Haggis was recently accused of sexual misconduct by several women, including forcing oral sex and raping another. But now he’s saying the Church of Scientology is behind it.
The Associated Press spoke with the alleged victims. One is a publicist who worked on a TV show with Paul, and says in 1996 he attacked her in her office and forcibly tried to kiss her and threatened her career, also alleging he forced her to give him oral sex, then raped her.
Another woman said while she was pitching a show to him in 2008, he said to her, “I need to be inside you,” then tried to kiss her.
A third women said they met at a film festival in 2015, and that he invited her to his hotel to discuss screenwriting, then grabbed and forcibly tried to kiss her.
Publicist Haleigh Breest also alleged he raped her and has filed a civil suit against him.
Paul’s 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.”
Haleigh’s attorney, Ilann M. Maazel, said, “This case has nothing whatsoever to do with Scientology. It has everything to do with Paul Haggis.”