A stunt performer on the film Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 2 is suing actor / director Kevin Costner, alleging that she was forced to perform an unscripted rape scene without proper protocols.
Devyn LaBella was the lead stunt double for Ella Hunt, who played the role of Juliette in the Horizon films - Costner’s self-funded westerns. According to LaBella’s lawsuit, Costner improvised a scene in 2023, in which Hunt’s character would be raped.
Hunt refused to perform the scene, the lawsuit states. LaBella was brought in as a stand-in, without advance warning and without an intimacy coordinator present.
The lawsuit states that LaBella never gave consent for this scene, and that it was an open set, meaning anyone could walk in and “observe the scene being performed”.
According to the complaint, LaBella was humiliated and traumatized by the experience.
“On that day, I was left exposed, unprotected, and deeply betrayed by a system that promised safety and professionalism,” LaBella said in a statement. “What happened to me shattered my trust and forever changed how I move through this industry.”
The suit alleges that the scene violated protocols negotiated by SAG-AFTRA, including a requirement for 48 hours’ notice and consent for any scenes involving nudity or simulated sex.
“This case is a clear example of male-dominated, sexist Hollywood movie production,” said Kate McFarlane, one of the plaintiffs’ attorneys. “Our client was subjected to brutal sexual conduct completely unprotected from the obvious harm.”
Costner denied the allegations through his attorney, Marty Singer.
In a statement, Singer said that Costner “always wants to make sure that everyone is comfortable working on his films and takes safety on set very seriously.” He added: “However, this claim by Devyn LaBella has absolutely no merit, and it is completely contradicted by her own actions – and the facts."
Singer called LaBella a “serial accuser” and that she uses “shakedown tactics”. He also claims “she approved the scene in question after rehearsing with another actor, by giving a “thumbs up”.
Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1 was released in June 2024 to mixed reviews. Chapter 2 was originally was removed from its original theatrical release date in August 2024 due to the first film’s poor performance at the box office.
