Los Angeles — Kevin Costner is facing a lawsuit from a stunt performer who claims she was forced to take part in an unscripted rape scene while filming Horizon 2, a Western film directed by the Oscar-winning actor.
Devyn LaBella, who worked as the lead stunt double for actress Ella Hunt, filed the suit on Tuesday. According to court documents, Costner allegedly created a last-minute scene in which Hunt’s character, Juliette, was to be raped. Hunt refused to film the scene, the lawsuit states, and LaBella was brought in as a stand-in — without advance notice, proper preparation, or consent.
The lawsuit alleges that the scene was filmed without an intimacy coordinator present and with no closed set. During the shoot, the male actor was reportedly instructed to mount LaBella, pin her down, and aggressively pull up her skirt.
LaBella said the experience left her “humiliated and traumatized.”
“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 also accuses the production of violating union rules set by SAG-AFTRA, which require at least 48 hours’ notice and consent for any scene involving nudity or simulated sex.
The alleged incident occurred on May 2, 2023, on a Utah set. LaBella claims she had filmed a separate scripted rape scene the day before, which was properly rehearsed, overseen by an intimacy coordinator, and conducted on a closed set.
“This case is a clear example of male-dominated, sexist Hollywood movie production,” said Kate McFarlane, LaBella’s attorney. “Our client was subjected to brutal sexual conduct with no protection from obvious harm.”
Costner has denied the allegations. In a statement issued by his attorney, Marty Singer, he called the claims “completely without merit” and accused LaBella of being a “serial accuser.”
“Kevin Costner takes safety on set very seriously,” Singer said. “This claim is contradicted by her own actions — including a rehearsal, where she signaled she was comfortable, and a friendly message sent afterward.”
Singer shared a text message that LaBella allegedly sent to a stunt coordinator after filming, thanking him for the experience and saying, “I’m really happy it worked out the way it did.”
LaBella’s lawsuit challenges that narrative, stating that she was shocked and upset after the scene. According to the complaint, when she expressed concern, she was blamed for not speaking up.
The lawsuit also claims that LaBella had to continue working after the incident, maintaining a professional attitude despite emotional distress. She later entered therapy to cope with what she described as a traumatic experience.
In the days that followed, LaBella says she cried frequently and felt uneasy, as crew members apologized to her for Costner’s behavior. She was not hired for Horizon 3 and has not been offered work with the same stunt coordinator since, despite having worked with him regularly before the incident.
Attorney James Vagnini, who also represents LaBella, said the case highlights ongoing issues in Hollywood.
“This lawsuit is about the failure of top-level production teams to understand the real impact of violent and sexual scenes — and the essential role of intimacy coordination,” he said.
Costner’s film Horizon: An American Saga is part of a larger project set to be released in multiple chapters. The controversy adds to growing concerns over how Hollywood handles consent and safety during sensitive scenes.
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