Kevin Costner sued by ‘Horizon 2’ stunt performer after allegedly unscripted rape scene
Kevin Costner has been sued by a stunt performer from his film Horizon 2 over an alleged unscripted rape scene.
Devyn LaBella is suing the production companies behind Horizon: An American Saga—Chapter 2. In the lawsuit, she accuses the film of not giving her notice or asking for consent to record. LaBella also claims they did not include a mandatory intimacy coordinator during the scene.
The lawsuit describes sexual discrimination by Costner, harassment, and a hostile work environment. LaBella also faced retaliation after reporting the incident. She reported that she was not called back for further work in the series or by the stunt coordinator who had hired her previously.
The Hollywood Reporter revealed that LaBella felt extremely violated by the incident. She told them, “On that day, I was left exposed, unprotected, and deeply betrayed by a system that promised safety and professionalism. What happened to me shattered my trust and forever changed how I move through this industry.”
LaBella claims that she was suitably taken through a scripted rape scene that was detailed and rehearsed with an intimacy co-ordinator and stunt co-ordinator. However, on May 2nd 2023, the lawsuit alleges that those rules were not followed when Costner asked LaBella to stand in for Ella Hunt in an unplanned scene of sexual violence with another character. Hunt had already refused to perform the scene.
Costner’s attorney has already reacted against this lawsuit, branding it a plea “with absolutely no merit” and adding that it is “completely contradicted by [LaBella’s] own actions—and the facts.”
Singer continued, “[Costner] always wants to make sure that everyone is comfortable working on his films and takes safety on set very seriously.”
He mentioned a text from LaBella that thanked Costner for “wonderful weeks” on set. She also seemed “in good spirits” the night of the alleged incident.
The lawsuit aims not only to seek compensation but also to “address the continued failures at the highest levels of Hollywood production companies to comprehend and address the impacts of performing in sexually explicit and violent ‘scenes’ and the need for intimacy coordination.”
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