Director Paul Haggis Tells Court Encounter With Accuser Was Consensual
Director Paul Haggis took the stand in a New York courtroom Wednesday morning, pushing back on allegations he raped a publicist at his Manhattan penthouse suite in 2013.
Haggis told the jury that plaintiff Haleigh Breest acted “playful” and “cartoony” when he asked her to come back to his SoHo loft for a late night drink—and willingly kissed him back—after months of exchanging “flirtatious” emails following a Manhattan film premiere on Jan. 31, 2013.
“Why did you invite Ms. Breest over for a drink?” Priya Chaudhry, Haggis’ attorney asked him.