Filmmaker Paul Haggis Calls Rape Accusation Against Him ‘Fiction’

Oscar-winning director-writer Paul Haggis, seeking dismissal of a rape case, has acknowledged that he had oral sex with a woman who has accused him of rape, but says it was consensual. The 65-year-old filed his response to a lawsuit against him by publicist Haleigh Breest on Monday in which he admitted he received oral sex from her but claimed it was consensual, according to court documents obtained by People.

Haleigh Breest sued him in last December, claiming Haggis had raped her after she accepted his offer to drive her home following a film premiere in 2013.

She also claimed the “Crash” director became “sexually aggressive” and forced her to perform oral sex on him before allegedly raping her.

Haggis has said her claims were “shocking and scandalous claims of fiction” which he face vehemently denies”. The director also denied Haleigh Breest “gave (him) oral sex” forcibly or without her consent, calling the moment consensual, people.com reported.

The director also said they had “mutually and voluntarily removed certain items of each other’s clothing”. In January, three other women had come forward to Breest’s attorneys. However, Haggis had denied the claims in a statement.