Kevin Costner sued by stunt double over unscripted rape scene in 'Horizon'

Published on 28/05/2025 - 16:50 GMT+2

A stunt performer connected nan film Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 2 is suing character / head Kevin Costner, alleging that she was forced to execute an unscripted rape segment without due protocols.

Devyn LaBella was nan lead stunt double for Ella Hunt, who played nan domiciled of Juliette successful nan Horizon films - Costner’s self-funded westerns. According to LaBella’s lawsuit, Costner improvised a segment successful 2023, successful which Hunt’s characteristic would beryllium raped. 

Hunt refused to execute nan scene, nan suit states. LaBella was brought successful arsenic a stand-in, without beforehand informing and without an intimacy coordinator present.  

The suit states that LaBella ne'er gave consent for this scene, and that it was an unfastened set, meaning anyone could locomotion successful and “observe nan segment being performed”.

According to nan complaint, LaBella was humiliated and traumatized by nan experience. 

“On that day, I was near exposed, unprotected, and profoundly betrayed by a strategy that promised information and professionalism,” LaBella said successful a statement. “What happened to maine shattered my spot and everlastingly changed really I move done this industry.” 

The suit alleges that nan segment violated protocols negotiated by SAG-AFTRA, including a request for 48 hours’ announcement and consent for immoderate scenes involving nudity aliases simulated sex. 

“This lawsuit is simply a clear illustration of male-dominated, sexist Hollywood movie production,” said Kate McFarlane, 1 of nan plaintiffs’ attorneys. “Our customer was subjected to sadistic intersexual behaviour wholly unprotected from nan evident harm.” 

Costner denied nan allegations done his attorney, Marty Singer.  

In a statement, Singer said that Costner “always wants to make judge that everyone is comfortable moving connected his films and takes information connected group very seriously.” He added: “However, this declare by Devyn LaBella has perfectly nary merit, and it is wholly contradicted by her ain actions – and nan facts."  

Singer called LaBella a “serial accuser” and that she uses “shakedown tactics”. He besides claims “she approved nan segment successful mobility aft rehearsing pinch different actor, by giving a “thumbs up”.

Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1 was released successful June 2024 to mixed reviews. Chapter 2 was primitively was removed from its original theatrical merchandise day successful August 2024 owed to nan first film’s mediocre capacity astatine nan container office.