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News.com.au
26-06-2025
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
Kevin Costner fires back at lawsuit from woman claiming she was forced into ‘unscripted rape scene'
Kevin Costner is fighting back against a lawsuit filed by stuntwoman Devyn LaBella, who alleged that she was made to perform a 'violent, unscripted rape scene' on the set of Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 2 without her consent. In a statement obtained by Fox News Digital, Costner's lawyer, Marty Singer, refuted the claims. 'Ms. LaBella was doing a rehearsal on an Insert Shot for a scripted scene. There was no intimacy or anything sexual in the shot,' his lawyer said. 'There was tugging on a dress while she was fully clothed in a dress with long bloomers lying down next to a male actor.' Costner's lawyer continued, 'Numerous witnesses have contradicted Ms. LaBella's meritless claims.' His legal team additionally claimed that LaBella texted her supervisor after she wrapped, 'stating, 'Thank you for these wonderful weeks.'' 'We look forward to the swift end of this specious lawsuit,' the statement concluded. In a newly amended complaint filed Wednesday, June 18, lawyers for LaBella claimed a scene that was filmed on May 2, 2023, was shot without any stunt or intimacy co-ordinators on set, according to documents obtained by Fox News Digital. 'What happened to me on that set was a reckless violation — a breach of consent and of basic workplace safety. I was told to lie down, and without warning or rehearsal, another actor was brought in to simulate a rape on top of me,' LaBella said in a statement. 'My undergarments were exposed. I was left alone afterwards, overwhelmed and in shock. Compliance under pressure is not consent. Consent cannot be given after the harm has already begun.' She continued, 'Once the line is crossed, there is no real choice left to make. I spoke up immediately. And for that, I was met with silence, deflection, and efforts to discredit me. This case is not just about what happened to me. It's about a broken system that protects those in power and punishes those who speak out. It's about demanding change, not just for me but for everyone who deserves to work in safety and dignity. What happened on that set was wrong. Let it be known: I stood up. I told the truth. And I will never apologise for demanding the bare minimum — to be treated like a human being at work.' LaBella amended her lawsuit, which was originally filed in May. The recent filing included alleged text messages exchanged between LaBella and the film's intimacy co-ordinator the day after the alleged incident. 'I wanted to discuss yesterdays abomination when we both have a chance,' LaBella, 30, wrote in the message. 'I was put in a really wrong position and it's really affected me.' To which the co-ordinator replied, 'Oh no, I'm so sorry to hear this Devyn … Let's talk through it.' In another alleged text message listed in the amended lawsuit, LaBella wrote to the co-ordinator, 'Why was there no intimacy co-ordinator?' 'Why was a stunt double doing this non stunt work — especially given the sensitivity of it?' LaBella added, 'Who is gonna take responsibility for the abuse of power …' The dispute between Costner and LaBella comes after the stuntwoman claimed last month that she performed the unscripted rape scene without proper notice, consent or the mandatory presence of an intimacy co-ordinator while she was working on Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 2. In the sequel film, LaBella was the lead stunt double for actress Ella Hunt, who played one of the Horizon movies' main characters, Juliette Chesney. Horizon: An American Saga is a four-part Western film series that was co-written, produced and directed by Costner, who also stars. In a complaint filed on May 27, 2025, and obtained by Fox News Digital, LaBella sued Costner and his production companies for sexual harassment, sexual discrimination, the creation of a hostile workplace environment and retaliation stemming from the alleged on-set incident. The lawsuit claimed that, 'On May 2, 2023, plaintiff Devyn LaBella, a female stunt performer, was the victim of a violent, unscripted, unscheduled rape scene directed by Kevin Costner.' In a statement to Fox News Digital at the time, Costner's lawyer emphatically denied the allegations made against his client, saying that LaBella's claim 'has absolutely no merit.' 'The impact of this impromptu work demand on Ms. LaBella has been profound, not only up-ending a career Ms. LaBella spent years building but leaving her with permanent trauma that she will be required to address for years to come,' the documents claimed. LaBella is suing for unspecified compensatory and punitive damages, and has requested a trial by jury. Per the lawsuit, LaBella began filming Horizon 2 in April 2023. According to the documents, there was another scene filmed on May 1, 2023, and LaBella and the actors previously rehearsed it with Wade and an intimacy co-ordinator. During the filming of that scene, the set was closed, and the intimacy co-ordinator was present. 'The scene 'wrapped,' and no issues were noted,' the lawsuit stated. Per the documents, LaBella was on set to film a 'non-intimate scene' the following day. The lawsuit alleged that Costner, who was present on the set, improvised additional scenes in which Juliette would be raped by a different character played by another actor. The new scenes required the actor to 'climb on top of Ms. Hunt, violently raking up her skirt,' the documents claimed. 'Due to the ad hoc and violent nature of the sudden script change request, along with the failure to secure a contractually required intimacy co-ordinator for the scene, Ms. Hunt became visibly upset and walked off the set, refusing to do the scene,' the documents alleged. In a statement at the time of the initial lawsuit filing, Singer told Fox News Digital, 'Our client, Kevin Costner, always wants to make sure that everyone is comfortable working on his films and takes safety on set very seriously. However, this claim by Devyn LaBella has absolutely no merit, and it is completely contradicted by her own actions – and the facts.' 'As a stunt performer on Horizon 2, the scene in question was explained to Ms. LaBella, and after she performed the rehearsal in character with another actor, she gave her Stunt Co-ordinator supervisor [Allen] a 'thumbs up' and indicated her willingness to then shoot the scene, if needed (which she was not),' Singer stated. Costner's lawyer also pointed to a text that LaBella allegedly sent to Allen, which was 'illustrated with happy heart emojis' and read: 'Thank you for these wonderful weeks! I so appreciate you! I learned so much and thank you again. I'm really happy it worked out the way it did to. Have a great rest of the shoot and yes talk soon!' 'The facts are clear, and we are beyond confident that Kevin will prevail,' Singer concluded.
Daily Mail
25-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Stuntwoman suing Kevin Costner over rape scene shares graphic new allegations
A stuntwoman suing Kevin Costner for allegedly forcing her to perform an unscripted rape scene in his big-budget Horizon western series has hit back at the actor in a new statement - days after sharing new details to bolster her shocking claims. Devyn LaBella first alleged in a lawsuit last month that she was 'the victim of a violent, unscripted, unscheduled rape scene directed by Kevin Costner' while serving as a double for actress Ella Hunt for Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 2 in May 2023. In an amended complaint filed on June 18, LaBella included screenshots of text messages with the film's intimacy coordinator along with detailed descriptions of the painful emotions she allegedly experienced after the scene was completed. On Tuesday, Costner's attorney Marty Singer slammed her latest allegations in a statement to the Daily Mail, accusing LaBella of fabricating her account and insisting there was 'no intimacy or anything sexual' in the scene she filmed. But now, LaBella and her legal team are doubling down on their allegations and have accused Singer, Costner, and the other defendants named in her suit of conspiring to silence and discredit her, as they attempt to bury her 'indisputable evidence.' 'What happened to me on that set was a reckless violation - a breach of consent and of basic workplace safety,' LaBella said in a statement shared with the Daily Mail on Wednesday. 'I was told to lie down, and without warning or rehearsal, another actor was brought in to simulate a rape on top of me. My undergarments were exposed. I was left alone afterward, overwhelmed and in shock. Compliance under pressure is not consent. Consent cannot be given after the harm has already begun.' LaBella continued: 'Once the line is crossed, there is no real choice left to make. I spoke up immediately. And for that, I was met with silence, deflection, and efforts to discredit me. 'This case is not just about what happened to me. It's about a broken system that protects those in power and punishes those who speak out. It's about demanding change, not just for me but for everyone who deserves to work in safety and dignity. 'What happened on that set was wrong. Let it be known: I stood up. I told the truth. And I will never apologize for demanding the bare minimum - to be treated like a human being at work.' Her attorneys, James A. Vagnini and Kate McFarlane, both shared statements echoing LaBella's claims. Vagnini claims that, contrary to remarks made by Singer, Labella immediately objected to the traumatic incident she experienced on set and that there's strong evidence - such as texts and a report from the intimacy coordinator - that supports her account. '[T]he Defendants failed her in every possible way,' said Vagnini. 'The playbook used by Defendants like this is tired, archaic, and as hollow as their words. 'How many more men who have followed this same pattern of denial and redirection have to be sued or go to jail before they realize that leading with accountability and an apology goes a long way?' McFarlane went a step further and accused Costner and co. of attempting a 'character assassination' of LaBella. 'However, it is not surprising,' added McFarlane. 'We have seen this time and again from men in this industry attempting to deflect the narrative rather than take any accountability for their actions that harm others. 'The evidence attached to the amended complaint shows that Ms. LaBella had the courage to speak out about her assault immediately after it happened. She maintains that same courage in continuing her fight today.' Singer has not yet responded to a new request for comment. In a new statement, LaBella on Wednesday accused Costner of 'a reckless violation - a breach of consent and of basic workplace safety' In an amended complaint filed on June 18, LaBella included screenshots of text messages with the film's intimacy coordinator along with detailed descriptions of the painful emotions she allegedly experienced after the scene was completed Shared in LaBella's amended complaint is a text exchange she allegedly shared with the 2024 film's intimacy coordinator, Celeste Cheney, the day after the 'rape scene' in question was shot. 'I wanted to discuss yesterdays [sic] abomination when we both have a chance,' LaBella, 30, is seen to write in screenshots of the messages, as first reported by US Weekly. A number bearing Cheney's name is seen to respond: 'Oh no, I'm so sorry to hear this Devyn. Let's talk through it.' According to the complaint, LaBella then listed more than a dozen questions regarding the scene. 'Why was there no intimacy coordinator?' she asked. 'Why was a stunt double doing this non-stunt work - especially given the sensitivity of it? Why weren't there any preparations going into the scene? 'Why wasn't it a closed set?' she continued. 'How did lining up a shot turn into a rape sequence? Why was a man from the camera department directing this non scripted action?' LaBella concluded the chain by asking Cheney, 'Who is gonna take responsibility for the abuse of power, negligence and ignorance on set?' In a separate string of texts, LaBella claimed to Cheney that she'd spoken to the film's line producer with another crew member, identified as 'Marshelle', and received an apology for the alleged incident. 'Basically telling me you two spoke, and that Kevin had a long convo with Ella yesterday basically putting the blame on Kevin and that he needs to be brought up to the current times and that it won't happen again and apologize,' wrote LaBella, summarizing the conversation. Cheney responded: 'Thanks for the update. I'm glad Jeff came to you and apologized.' LaBella's complaints about her treatment on set were summarized in an incident report written by Cheney, per the amended filing. In the report, Cheney claimed that several days after the incident, 'apologies were made to Ella [Hunt] and Devyn by various parties involved.' 'This was not a formal or uniform process,' continued Cheney. 'Ideally, apologies would be issued by [Costner], the 1st AD, and others involved to both Ella and Devyn. 'Ella [Hunt] requested that the intimacy coordinator be brought back to provide support the following week. Production obliged. Devyn requested that production pay for her flight home that weekend so she could receive support from family and friends. Production obliged.' Singer blasted LaBella's amended complaint in a scornful statement on Tuesday. 'Ms. LaBella was doing a rehearsal on an Insert Shot for a scripted scene. There was no intimacy or anything sexual in the shot,' he claimed. 'There was tugging on a dress while she was fully clothed in a dress with long bloomers lying down next to a male actor.' Singer also claimed that LaBella thanked her supervisor for 'these wonderful weeks' in a text message sent following her last day of filming. 'Numerous witnesses have contradicted Ms. LaBella's meritless claims,' he further charged. 'We look forward to the swift end of this specious lawsuit.' The Daily Mail previously reported in late May that LaBella had filed a lawsuit against Costner, 70, and Territory Pictures over her experience on the set of the Costner-directed $100 million Western film series. In the lawsuit, LaBella says she was hired as a stunt double for Horizon 2's lead actress, Ella Hunt, under a SAG agreement. Her job was to stand in for Hunt 'during physical scenes,' including performing stunts, per the complaint. According to LaBella's complaint, any 'last-minute requests for nudity or simulated sex' are not allowed by SAG, and the film's producers are expected to give 48 hours' notice of any changes. The performer's permission is also required when it comes to any changes related to intimate scenes, and Hunt's contract mandated having a coordinator on set for all intimacy scenes, the complaint reads. She said she had no issues during the first several weeks of filming until the allegedly 'violent, unscripted, unscheduled rape scene' took place on May 2, 2023, which she further claimed was 'improvised' by Costner, without warning. Hunt allegedly refused to perform the scene, and LaBella was brought in as a stand-in, without warning, preparation, or consent, and without an intimacy coordinator present, the suit alleges. According to the complaint, a male actor - Robert Ivers - was directed to mount her, pin her down, and violently hike up her skirt. The set was not closed, the suit states. LaBella alleges the experience left her humiliated and traumatized. The suit claims LaBella performed in a scripted rape scene the previous day, which was handled professionally. In that scene, there were rehearsals, an intimacy coordinator was present, and the set was closed. At the time, Singer issued a blanket denial of LaBella's claims, insisting her accusations have 'absolutely no merit' and are 'completely contradicted by her own actions - and the facts'. Singer blasted LaBella for employing 'shakedown tactics' to fleece his A-list client and called her a 'serial accuser of people in the entertainment industry.' Another of LaBella's attorneys, Cassidy Geoghegan, told Daily Mail at the time that her client had 'never filed a lawsuit against anyone, let alone an employer or Hollywood figure.' But Geoghegan added that LaBella did previously receive 'tuition reimbursement after a class action settlement was reached against a well-known actor's acting school.' The Daily Mail exclusively revealed the class action in question related to a lawsuit filed against James Franco and his now-defunct acting school, Studio 4, in which the actor was accused of inappropriate and sexually exploitative behavior by former students. Franco denied any wrongdoing but eventually settled the case for $2.2million. Roughly $1.3million of that sum was allocated to reimburse tuition costs for students who attended Studio 4 between 2014 and 2017. In a 2018 L.A. Times article, in which the Franco allegations were first reported, LaBella told the outlet that students were often told smaller roles in Franco's projects were reserved exclusively for Studio 4 students, but often those roles required extra work or nudity. 'I didn't have agency representation at the time, so I thought, 'Well, I'm not going to be able to get into good auditions, so this might be my opportunity,'' LaBella was quoted as saying. LaBella added that she and other classmates uploaded their auditions to a website, but nobody she knew ever heard back. It's unclear how much LaBella recouped from the class action. But LaBella's attorney denied Singer's claims that her client has a negative reputation in Hollywood. 'She has a glowing track record of consistent professional work, even on Costner's set,' said Geoghegan. 'She reported the incident within 24 hours of it happening and asserted her legal claims within a month of the production wrapping. She has been pursuing these claims consistently ever since and has not wavered in her resolve to have this matter addressed.'
Fox News
25-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Fox News
Kevin Costner fires back at lawsuit from woman claiming she was forced into 'unscripted rape scene'
Kevin Costner is fighting back against a lawsuit filed by stuntwoman Devyn LaBella, who alleged that she was made to perform a "violent, unscripted rape scene" on the set of "Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 2" without her consent. In a statement obtained by Fox News Digital, Costner's attorney, Marty Singer, refuted the claims. "Ms. LaBella was doing a rehearsal on an Insert Shot for a scripted scene. There was no intimacy or anything sexual in the shot," his lawyer said. "There was tugging on a dress while she was fully clothed in a dress with long bloomers lying down next to a male actor." Costner's lawyer continued, "Numerous witnesses have contradicted Ms. LaBella's meritless claims." His legal team additionally claimed that LaBella texted her supervisor after she wrapped, "stating, 'Thank you for these wonderful weeks.'" "We look forward to the swift end of this specious lawsuit," the statement concluded. In a newly amended complaint filed Wednesday, June 18, lawyers for LaBella claimed a scene that was filmed on May 2, 2023, was shot without any stunt or intimacy coordinators on set, according to documents obtained by Fox News Digital. "What happened to me on that set was a reckless violation — a breach of consent and of basic workplace safety. I was told to lie down, and without warning or rehearsal, another actor was brought in to simulate a rape on top of me," LaBella said in a statement. "My undergarments were exposed. I was left alone afterward, overwhelmed and in shock. Compliance under pressure is not consent. Consent cannot be given after the harm has already begun." She continued, "Once the line is crossed, there is no real choice left to make. I spoke up immediately. And for that, I was met with silence, deflection, and efforts to discredit me. This case is not just about what happened to me. It's about a broken system that protects those in power and punishes those who speak out. It's about demanding change, not just for me but for everyone who deserves to work in safety and dignity. What happened on that set was wrong. Let it be known: I stood up. I told the truth. And I will never apologize for demanding the bare minimum — to be treated like a human being at work." LaBella amended her lawsuit, which was originally filed in May. The recent filing included alleged text messages exchanged between LaBella and the film's intimacy coordinator the day after the alleged incident. "I wanted to discuss yesterdays abomination when we both have a chance," LaBella, 30, wrote in the message. "I was put in a really wrong position and it's really affected me." To which the coordinator replied, "Oh no, I'm so sorry to hear this Devyn… Let's talk through it." In another alleged text message listed in the amended lawsuit, LaBella wrote to the coordinator, "Why was there no intimacy coordinator?" "Why was a stunt double doing this non stunt work — especially given the sensitivity of it?" LaBella added, "Who is gonna take responsibility for the abuse of power …" The dispute between Costner and LaBella comes after the stuntwoman claimed last month that she performed the unscripted rape scene without proper notice, consent or the mandatory presence of an intimacy coordinator while she was working on "Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 2." In the sequel film, LaBella was the lead stunt double for actress Ella Hunt, who played one of the "Horizon" movies' main characters, Juliette Chesney. "Horizon: An American Saga" is a four-part Western film series that was co-written, produced and directed by Costner, who also stars. In a complaint filed on May 27, 2025, and obtained by Fox News Digital, LaBella sued Costner and his production companies for sexual harassment, sexual discrimination, the creation of a hostile workplace environment and retaliation stemming from the alleged on-set incident. The lawsuit claimed that, "On May 2, 2023, plaintiff Devyn LaBella, a female stunt performer, was the victim of a violent, unscripted, unscheduled rape scene directed by Kevin Costner." In a statement to Fox News Digital at the time, Costner's attorney emphatically denied the allegations made against his client, saying that LaBella's claim "has absolutely no merit." "The impact of this impromptu work demand on Ms. LaBella has been profound, not only upending a career Ms. LaBella spent years building but leaving her with permanent trauma that she will be required to address for years to come," the documents claimed. LaBella is suing for unspecified compensatory and punitive damages, and has requested a trial by jury. Per the lawsuit, LaBella began filming "Horizon 2" in April 2023. According to the documents, there was another scene filmed on May 1, 2023, and LaBella and the actors previously rehearsed it with Wade and an intimacy coordinator. During the filming of that scene, the set was closed, and the intimacy coordinator was present. "The scene 'wrapped,' and no issues were noted," the lawsuit stated. Per the documents, LaBella was on set to film a "non-intimate scene" the following day. The lawsuit alleged that Costner, who was present on the set, improvised additional scenes in which Juliette would be raped by a different character played by another actor. The new scenes required the actor to "climb on top of Ms. Hunt, violently raking up her skirt," the documents claimed. "Due to the ad hoc and violent nature of the sudden script change request, along with the failure to secure a contractually required intimacy coordinator for the scene, Ms. Hunt became visibly upset and walked off the set, refusing to do the scene," the documents alleged. In a statement at the time of the initial lawsuit filing, Singer told Fox News Digital, "Our client, Kevin Costner, always wants to make sure that everyone is comfortable working on his films and takes safety on set very seriously. However, this claim by Devyn LaBella has absolutely no merit, and it is completely contradicted by her own actions – and the facts." "As a stunt performer on 'Horizon 2,' the scene in question was explained to Ms. LaBella, and after she performed the rehearsal in character with another actor, she gave her Stunt Coordinator supervisor [Allen] a 'thumbs up' and indicated her willingness to then shoot the scene, if needed (which she was not)," Singer stated. Costner's attorney also pointed to a text that LaBella allegedly sent to Allen, which was "illustrated with happy heart emojis" and read: "Thank you for these wonderful weeks! I so appreciate you! I learned so much and thank you again. I'm really happy it worked out the way it did to. Have a great rest of the shoot and yes talk soon!" "The facts are clear, and we are beyond confident that Kevin will prevail," Singer concluded.
Daily Mail
25-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Kevin Costner HITS BACK at stuntwoman suing him over 'violent' rape scene in his western flop Horizon
A lawyer for Kevin Costner has hit back against the Horizon stuntwoman suing the actor for sexual harassment after she came forward with fresh claims about the unscripted rape scene she alleges she was subjected to for his $100million Western epic. Stuntwoman Devyn LaBella first alleged in a lawsuit last month that she was 'the victim of a violent, unscripted, unscheduled rape scene directed by Kevin Costner' while serving as a double for actress Ella Hunt for Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 2 in May 2023. In a new amended complaint filed June 16, LaBella has now included text messages with the film's intimacy coordinator along with descriptions of the painful emotions she allegedly endured after the scene was completed. But Costner's lawyer Marty Singer has slammed the latest allegations in a statement obtained by insisting there was 'no intimacy or anything sexual' in the shot. 'Ms. LaBella was doing a rehearsal on an Insert Shot for a scripted scene. There was no intimacy or anything sexual in the shot,' Singer said. 'There was tugging on a dress while she was fully clothed in a dress with long bloomers lying down next to a male actor.' Singer also claimed that LaBella thanked her supervisor for 'these wonderful weeks' in a text message sent following her wrap. Stuntwoman Devyn LaBella first alleged in a lawsuit last month that she was 'the victim of a violent, unscripted, unscheduled rape scene directed by Kevin Costner' while serving as a double for actress Ella Hunt for Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 2 in May 2023 'Numerous witnesses have contradicted Ms. LaBella's meritless claims. She herself texted her supervisor after she wrapped stating, "Thank you for these wonderful weeks." We look forward to the swift end of this specious lawsuit.' The amended complaint details how, following a scripted and scheduled rape scene shot on May 1 (which included LaBella, Hunt and actor Douglas Smith, who played Sig), LaBella alleges the following day she was 'set to perform a non-intimate scene as a double' with Hunt. The amended complaint alleges that they learned the scenes would instead be filmed with male actor Roger Ivens, who played the character Birke and was cast during pre-production, and 'no arrangements were made' for an intimacy coordinator to be present during the shoot (her contract allegedly required such a coordinator be present during intimate scenes). Hunt allegedly 'walked off the set, refusing to do the scene' as a result of the 'ad hoc and violent nature of the sudden script change request' along with the absence of the intimacy coordinator, according to her legal complaint. LaBella was allegedly unaware Hunt had walked off and was asked by Costner to appear as a 'stand in' for Hunt to 'line up [a] shot' - which she agreed to do. However the complaint alleges that LaBella was 'completely in the dark' as to what the scene would entail, 'whether her undergarments would be worn or exposed, who would be involved, what was expected of her, whether there would be a rehearsal or run through, whether there was a need for and therefore would be an intimacy coordinator and most importantly, whether she consented to do a scene that would require her consent.' Costner - who the complaint notes was 'fully in charge of directing the action filmed' that day - ultimately directed Ivens 'to repeatedly perform a violent simulated rape on Ms. LaBella.' 'As directed by Costner, this unscripted, unrehearsed scene consisted of Mr. Ivens mounting Ms. LaBella while miming the unbuttoning of his pants, and using his body and arms to forcibly pin down Ms. LaBella, who was on her back underneath him,' the complaint reads. 'Mr. Ivens violently rustled Ms. LaBella's skirt up as if trying to penetrate her against her will and he was directed to pin her legs open with his knee.' The complaint also states: 'Ms. LaBella was never given the opportunity to prepare for or consent to participate in this scene, much less to object to it. 'To the contrary, without a discussion, explanation, rehearsal, choreography session or stunt or intimacy coordinator present, Defendant Costner instructed Ms. LaBella to 'lay down' as Mr. Ivens, who was dirty and covered in sweat, climbed on top of her and then lifted up her skirt while pinning her legs down so she could not move.' The complaint also alleges that LaBelle's 'personal undergarments were exposed' during the scene, which only further added to her humiliation as she was menstruating at the time of the shoot. 'As Defendant Costner directed Mr. Ivens to carry out the violent assault over and over and over again, Ms. LaBella felt the air pour over her intimate parts as her personal undergarments were exposed, even though to Ms. LaBella's knowledge, costume underwear is typically worn in planned intimate shots,' the complaint noted. 'This exposure was especially humiliating to Ms. LaBella as she was menstruating at the time, compounded by the fact that between takes, Mr. Ivens' hands rested on top of the bundled-up skirt above her vagina,' it further added. 'Wardrobe immediately sewed up Ms. LaBella's bloomers after the scene as she requested. It should have been done prior to the scene, but the departments were not prepared or informed that the scene would be happening.' has contacted representatives for Iven who had no comment at this time. LaBella previously claimed that Costner did not call out 'action' or 'cut' during the scene, which meant she wasn't aware when it began or ended. She further alleged that neither the film's stunt coordinator or the intimacy coordinator were present during the filming of the impromptu scene or informed it was happening. In the fallout from the scene, LaBella says she suffered 'shock, embarrassment and humiliation while attempting to process the situation', and she contacted the intimacy coordinator to discuss the 'abomination.' The complaint contained screenshots of their subsequent text messages in which LaBella expressed her grievances over the May 2 shoot. When LaBella returned to the set following a break, the complaint claims the environment for her as 'very awkward' with the production team now behaving 'extra careful' around her. It noted that 'multiple people apologized to her over the course of days and made excuses for Director Costner, all of which made her feel even more uncomfortable.' It adds she was not re-hired for Horizon 3. LaBella first first the lawsuit against Costner and the Horizon producers last month. People reported that LaBella is 'suing for an undisclosed amount and wants a trial by jury.' Costner's attorney Marty Singer previously slammed LaBella as a 'serial accuser' as he vehemently denied her claims, which he insisted have 'absolutely no merit,' in a statement. He said that Costner 'always wants to make sure that everyone is comfortable working on his films and takes safety on set very seriously.' Singer, who accused LaBella of 'shakedown tactics,' also alleged that she had approved and rehearsed the scene with another actor prior to filming. He also claimed she was in 'good spirits' afterwards and had expressed gratitude for the opportunity via text to Horizon's stunt coordinator. Singer concluded: 'The facts are clear and we are beyond confident that Kevin will prevail.' The impact of the scene took a toll on LaBella, according to her lawsuit, as she allegedly broke down and experienced 'reminders of shame, humiliation and complete lack of control.' LaBella claims that the onset incident has left her 'with permanent trauma that she will be required to address for years to come.' She said she began suffering from 'sleep disturbance, fears of intimacy' and 'anxiety,' which drove her to seek the help of a therapist in June 2023. '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,' she shared in a statement to PEOPLE last month. 'As I continue performing and step into my journey of stunt coordination, I operate with a fierce commitment to upholding the highest standards, creating sets where safety, communication, and consent are non-negotiable. 'This experience has ignited in me a lifelong mission to be the advocate I once needed, ensuring no one else is ever left as vulnerable as I was.' LaBella's attorney James A. Vagnini called the lawsuit 'emblematic of what is still a very deep rooted issue in Hollywood.' LaBella's other attorney Kate McFarlane added that the 'case is a clear example of male-dominated, sexist Hollywood movie production. 'Our client was subjected to brutal sexual conduct completely unprotected from the obvious harm. This happened despite the fact that there exists standards of conduct and behavior specifically designed to protect people like Devyn LaBella,' McFarlane concluded.
The Sun
24-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Disturbing new text evidence from stuntwoman suing Kevin Costner over ‘unscripted' rape scene and ‘abuse of power'
A STUNTWOMAN'S lawsuit against Kevin Costner claiming that she was subjected to a "violent" unscripted rape scene has been amended to include disturbing alleged texts. Devyn LaBella, 34, alleged in one message there had been an 'abuse of power.' 3 3 3 The former gymnast who has worked as a Hollywood stunt performer since 2020 on the likes of Barbie and Yellowjackets filed her lawsuit on May 27 in Los Angeles Superior Court. She has alleged that she was subjected to an unscripted rape scene without proper warning, consent or protocols while shooting Costner's film Horizon: An American Saga: Chapter 2. Costner, 70, who was acting as well as directing on set for the movie, has denied all the allegations. His lawyer has denied there was "anything sexual in the shot." LaBella amended her lawsuit on June 18 to include alleged text messages, reported the US Weekly. The publication claimed that it had seen new evidence submitted against Costner and his production firm Territory Pictures. The shoot included a planned sexual assault scene, shot in May of 2023, that LaBella performed much of because of its violent and physical nature, the initial lawsuit said. LaBella's lawsuit said she was the stunt double for one of the Horizon leads, Ella Hunt, 27, throughout the Western. For the initial scene, protocols were followed, including meetings, rehearsals, the presence of an intimacy coordinator and minimal crew, the lawsuit stated. But it alleged that the following day, in an unscripted scene with no warning, rehearsal or choreography, Costner directed an actor to pin LaBella down on a wagon and simulate rape. The lawsuit claimed that Costner asked for many takes as he experimented with the violent action and did not make it clear when a shot was beginning or ending. The amended lawsuit includes alleged text messages LaBella claimed to have exchanged with the film's intimacy coordinator, Celeste Cheney, the day after the alleged scene was shot. LaBella wrote in the alleged text, dated May 3, 'Hi Celeste... I wanted to discuss yesterdays abomination when we both have a chance. "Are you around today? I was put in a really wrong position and it's really affected me." INTIMACY According to the Weekly, Cheney replied, "Oh no, I'm so sorry to hear this, Devyn. Yes, of course, let's talk it through." In a further alleged message, LaBella reportedly asked the coordinator, 'Why was there no intimacy coordinator?' The Weekly claimed that she also allegedly texted, 'Why was a stunt double doing this non stunt work — especially given the sensitivity of it? 'Who is gonna take responsibility for the abuse of power …' EXPLICIT ACTION These questions were among more than a dozen that LaBella allegedly asked Cheney in relation to the scene. For example, the amended lawsuit said she also allegedly asked, "how did lining up a shot turn into a rape sequence?" and "why was sensitive and explicit action commanded when it wasn't in the script?" The Weekly claimed that Cheney later wrote an incident report in which she allegedly noted that 'apologies were made to Ella [Hunt] and Devyn by various parties involved.' COSTNER'S ATTORNEY RESPONDS Costner's attorney, Martin Singer, has rejected LaBella's claims. He said in a statement, "Ms. LaBella was doing a rehearsal on an insert shot for a scripted scene." Any shot whose only objective is to draw the viewer's attention to a single aspect inside a scene is referred to as an insert shot, according to the Nashville Film Institute. Singer told The U.S. Sun, "There was no intimacy or anything sexual in the shot. "There was tugging on a dress while she was fully clothed in a dress with long bloomers lying down next to a male actor. "Numerous witnesses have contradicted Ms. LaBella's meritless claims. "She herself texted her supervisor after she wrapped stating, 'Thank you for these wonderful weeks.' "We look forward to the swift end of this specious lawsuit.' REHEARSED It followed his previous statement on the lawsuit when it was lodged. He said last month, "The scene in question was explained to Ms. LaBella. "After she performed the rehearsal in character with another actor, she gave her stunt coordinator supervisor a thumbs up and indicated her willingness to then shoot the scene, if needed (which she was not)." He added, "That night, Ms. LaBella had dinner with her supervisor, the stunt coordinator, and with the assistant stunt coordinator, and she was in good spirits and made no complaints to them. "She continued to work on the movie for a few more weeks until her wrap date, and she took the stunt coordinator to a thank-you dinner." DAMAGES The lawsuit seeks damages in an amount to be determined at trial. It also seeks a judge's order for the defendants to undergo sexual harassment training, to be required to use an intimacy coordinator on future productions and to issue LaBella a public apology. Costner has spent 30 years trying to make the ambitious, four-part Western epic Horizon: An American Saga. The first part was released in June 2024.
