Scientology Behind Paul Haggis Rape Lawsuit: Actress Leah Remini

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Actress Leah Remini testified in the rape trial of London-born director Paul Haggis that the allegations were punishment for speaking out against Scientology.

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Remini became an outspoken critic of Scientology after leaving the religion in 2013. She testified at Haggis’ civil trial Monday and told the jury he was the victim. Former publicist Hadleigh Breest is suing Haggis for raping her in his apartment in 2013.

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“The purpose of Scientology lawsuits is only to destroy your life,” Remini said during testimony given virtually via video Monday, according to the New York Post.

The church will “gather all sorts of things to hurt you, and it hurts,” she later added, the Post reported.

The Hollywood director and screenwriter, who grew up in London and attended Catholic Central High School before moving to California, is best known for the Oscar-winning films Crash and Million Dollar Baby. A south London park bears his name.

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Haggis, 69, was charged with sexual harassment and assault by four other women in a separate lawsuit. None of the allegations were proven in court.

He was also arrested in Italy last summer after an unnamed British woman claimed he forced her to have sex. A court later ruled that there was no basis for further investigation into the allegations, the Associated Press reported.

Haggis has vehemently denied all allegations.

A previous New York Post report quoted Haggis as saying when he took the stand earlier in his trial: “I am very fortunate because I have not been able to clear my name for five years and now I will.”

London City Council has previously considered stripping Paul Haggis Park of the director’s name, a proposal that resurfaced last summer.

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“These allegations are very serious and worrying,” Mayor Ed Holder said in a statement released in June, but he paused briefly to urge the park to be renamed.

So far, despite demands from the public and a London Women’s Board, the City Council has done nothing.

Haggis spoke out against Scientology after leaving the church in 2009. He has claimed the lawsuit is part of a “vendetta,” retaliation against him for his public criticism.

The Church of Scientology released a statement calling his claims “absurd and patently false” and claiming the church had “nothing to do with the allegations against Haggis, nor does it have any relationship with the attorneys behind the case or the.” accusers”.