By Olivier Acuña Barba •
Revealed: 28 Might 2025 • 15:15
• 2 minutes learn
A stunt actress on movie “Horizon 2” filed a lawsuit in California towards Kevin Costner and the producers of the movie, alleging she was compelled to carry out in a “violent” unscripted rape scene with out consent or different correct protocols.
Stuntlady Devin LaBella was the lead stunt double for actress Ella Hunt, who performed the position of Juliette within the “Horizon” movies.
In ther grievance to the Superior Courtroom of California, Los Angeles, LaBella mentioned Costner, the director of the four-part western anthology written, directed and starred by Costner, improvised a scene through which Hunt’s character could be raped.
LaBella alleged that as a result of Hunt refused to movie Costner’s improvised rape scene she was referred to as to stand-in, with none advance warning, preparation or consent, and with out an intimacy coordinator current.
In accordance with the stunt performer’s grievance, the male actor was directed to mount her, pin her down, and violently rake up her skirt. The set was not closed, LaBella added in her lawsuit.
She additionally mentioned she was humiliated and traumatised by the expertise.
‘Uncovered, unprotected and betrayed’
“On that day, I used to be left uncovered, unprotected, and deeply betrayed by a system that promised security and professionalism,” LaBella mentioned in an announcement. “What occurred to me shattered my belief and ceaselessly modified how I transfer by way of this business.”
The complain argues that the rape scene violated protocols negotiated by SAG-AFTRA, together with a requirement for 48 hours’ discover and consent for any scenes involving nudity or simulated intercourse.
The incident occurred on Might 2, 2023, on a set in Utah. LaBella additionally carried out in a scripted rape scene yesterday, which was dealt with professionally, the stuntlady mentioned.
She added that in that first rape scene, rehearsals happened and an intimacy coordinator was current. The set was closed in accordance with the protocols.
“This case is a transparent instance of male-dominated, sexist Hollywood film manufacturing,” mentioned Kate McFarlane, one of many plaintiffs’ attorneys. “Our shopper was subjected to brutal sexual conduct, utterly unprotected from the plain hurt.”
Kevin Costner denies the allegations
In accordance with a Selection report, Costner denied the allegations by way of his lawyer, Marty Singer. In an announcement, Singer mentioned that Costner “all the time needs to make it possible for everyone seems to be snug engaged on his movies and takes security on set very significantly.”
“Nonetheless, this declare by Devyn LaBella has completely no benefit, and her personal actions and the details utterly contradict it,” Singer mentioned. “Ms. LaBella is a serial accuser of individuals within the leisure business and has labored with the identical lawyer on previous claims. However these shakedown techniques gained’t work on this case.”
Singer produced a textual content message that LaBella allegedly despatched to the stunt coordinator upon finishing the shoot: “Thanks for these fantastic weeks! I so recognize you! I discovered a lot and thanks once more. I’m actually blissful it labored out the way in which it did to Have an incredible remainder of the shoot and sure discuss quickly!”
In accordance with her grievance, LaBella was not rehired for “Horizon 3” and has not been employed for any of the coordinator’s different tasks, regardless of having labored for him usually beforehand.