Why was Paul Haggis detained in Ostuni?
by Ana Walia | Mon, 20 Jun 2022 10:25:44 GMT
Paul Haggis is facing new trouble. Image Source: The Wrap 

Paul Haggis is facing new trouble.

Academy Award-winning filmmaker Paul Haggis was arrested on June 19th in the southern Italian town of Ostuni on allegations of sexual assault and serious physical harm, according to multiple sources from the Italian newspaper Corriere de la Sera.

Priya Chaudhry, Paul Haggis' attorney, said in a statement to Variety that although she cannot discuss the evidence because of Italian law. However, she is convinced that all of the charges levied against him will be rejected since the director is innocent and eager to completely collaborate with authorities in order for the truth to be disclosed promptly.

According to the Italian newspaper Corriere de la Sera, Paul Haggis allegedly forced a young foreign lady to have sex over two days in Ostuni, then drove her to an airport and left her there at dawn despite her perilous physical and psychological state. According to the statement, the airport employees and police provided the first treatment to the foreign lady after they noticed her confused state and transported her to the hospital, where she was treated according to Italy's pink procedure for rape victims. The victim decided to file an official complaint later. 

Antonio Negro, the prosecutor, and Livia Orlando, the prosecutor, are investigating the case. According to them, the lady who formalized her complaint and explained the facts to the authorities, following which they looked into it for confirmation by investigators, and hence Paul Haggis was detained. The victim's identity has not been revealed by the police.

The director was in Ostuni for master classes at Allora Fest. Image Source: Reuters

Silvia Bizio who is  an Italian journalist working in Los Angeles, and Sol Costales Doulton, who is a Spanish art critic had organised a fest named Allora Fest which is new and scheduled to take place from June 21st to June 26th in Ostuni. The director of Crash was in Ostuni to conduct a series of master classes at Allora Fest. The event's organizers issued a statement saying that they immediately removed the director's participation from the event after learning of the shocking incident.

Paul Haggis has been accused of sexual misconduct on several occasions. A publicist, Haleigh Breest, filed a civil suit against the filmmaker in 2017, saying that after a movie premiere in 2013, Paul Haggis raped her in a New York City apartment. Paul maintained that the allegations leveled against him are false, and Haleigh wanted $9 million in exchange for a settlement, claiming that the charge is a ruse to get money. The charges were described as "ludicrous" by Haleigh Breest's attorneys.

Paul Haggis maintained that his sexual intercourse with Haleigh Breest was consensual, according to court records acquired by E! News at the time. He also denied that he forced her to give him oral consent without her permission. In addition to Paul Haggis' assertions, the document included testimonials from several women who backed the filmmaker and painted him in a good and professional light in court. Haleigh Breest's lawsuit is still unresolved, but Paul Haggis' countersuit was dismissed in 2017.

Paul Haggis' attorney believes that all of the charges levied against him will be rejected since the director is innocent. Image Source: ScreenRant 

The filing and publicizing of Haleigh Breest's complaint inspired three other women to come forward with similar sexual assault and harassment allegations against Paul Haggis, although anonymously. The ladies who came forward stated that their interactions with the director occurred between 1996 and 2015, but that they had not initiated any legal action. All of the charges were refuted by Paul Haggis.

Paul Haggis discussed producer Harvey Weinstein and the numerous sexual misconduct charges in Hollywood in a 2017 interview with The Guardian. Although everyone believes it is heinous conduct, Paul believes that the attention should be on those who may have conspired and shielded the producer and that everyone is just as culpable as he is, if not more so. Paul highlighted that Harvey Weinstein was the predator, and although a predator is a predator, what about those who would prefer to turn a blind eye? The filmmaker said at the time that he does not believe sexual harassment and abuse are widespread in the profession but allowed that the town is rather sexist and said that it’s not an innocent place and never has been.




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