Paul Haggis, 'Million Dollar Baby' & 'Crash' Screenwriter, Charged With Sexual Assault

Paul is charged with forcing a young, non-Italian woman to “undergo sexual intercourse over the course of two days in Ostuni,” via local Italian news outlets per Variety.

Italian journalist Silvia Bizio and Spanish art critic Sol Costales Doulton are set to run Allora Fest in Ostuni later in the month, where he was to hold several master classes. Silvia confirmed the festival is “completely taking its distance” from him and will be soon issuing a statement.

The alleged victim, after being assaulted, was taken to the Papola Casale airport in Brindisi by Paul, and left there on Sunday morning (June 19) with “precarious physical and psychological conditions,” via Italian police. The staff at the airport then accompanied her to the police, who took her to the hospital.

He was previously sued in 2018 by publicist Haleigh Breest, who alleged that he had violently raped her after a premiere in 2013. Three additional women came forward with their own sexual misconduct accusations against him. He denies the claims.