Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1 had a less than stellar box office and now Kevin Costner’s follow up is riddled with issues. And now a terrifying lawsuit from stunt double Devyn LaBella.
LaBella is Ella Hunt’s stunt double on Chapter 2 and shared her story. According to LaBella, she was on set when Costner allegedly instructed actor Roger Ivens to act out an unscripted rape scene for Hunt’s character that LaBella was to perform. As per their agreement, Hunt’s contract stated that any scenes depicting sexual violence had to have an intimacy coordinator on set and as LaBella is her stunt double, that applied to LaBella as well.
Per LaBella’s lawsuit, she states that Costner allegedly added this scene unprompted after having filmed a different scene depicting sexual violence the day before. LaBella claims that Costner never called cut and she was unaware when the scene was ending and alleges that Ivens was constantly touching her as a result.
“On that day, I was left exposed, unprotected, and deeply betrayed by a system that promised safety and professionalism,” LaBella said in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter. “What happened to me shattered my trust and forever changed how I move through this industry.” Costner’s lawyer, Marty Singer, said that Costner “always wants to make sure that everyone is comfortable working on his films and takes safety on set very seriously.” And went on to say that LaBella’s lawsuit has “absolutely no merit” and is “completely contradicted by [LaBella’s] own actions — and the facts.”
LaBella said that when she spoke up about the alleged incident, it resulted in Wade Allen, who had hired LaBella for the project, to not bring her back for the third film and she states that it has allegedly put a halt on her career as a whole. She says that even with Allen not hiring her again, the incident makes “the workplace, and stunt work in general, which was once a source of purpose and fulfillment, is now a place of heightened apprehension and the whole experience has left Ms. LaBella feeling ‘disposable’ and ‘worthless.’”
According to The Hollywood Reporter, an intimacy coordinator was mandated to be on set and Jennifer Mondino, the senior director of Time’s Up Legal Defense Fund, said “The guidelines that are supposed to be followed on regular movie sets weren’t being followed.” LaBella’s lawyer, James Vagnini, said “If it can happen on a size of a production worth $100 million or more, imagine what happens on smaller ones where you’re really trying to cut corners.”
Costner’s team believes that the facts “are clear” and that the director and actor “will prevail.”
(featured image: New Line Cinema)
Have a tip we should know? [email protected]
