Kevin Costner disputes Horizon sexual assault claim, files evidence with photos—was the contested scene really what's been said?

Time of India

a day ago

Kevin Costner has formally responded to allegations made by stuntwoman Devyn LaBella, who filed a lawsuit in May claiming she was forced into an unscripted rape scene while filming Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 2. In a new motion filed in California Superior Court, the actor rejected the claims and called them both false and damaging.
Costner calls allegations false and harmful
In his declaration, Costner described the lawsuit as 'patently false' and 'deeply disappointing.' He added that the language used in the complaint was designed to embarrass him and harm the Horizon films. 'Equally as bad, having to read about and address allegations I know to be false involving the words 'rape' and 'assault' has been an absolute nightmare,' Costner said.
He stressed that the claims were intended to damage his reputation. 'The truth matters. That's why, even at the high cost of this lawsuit, I will always speak up to defend myself and my crew against false allegations,' he wrote.
Evidence submitted by Costner
As part of his filing, Costner included dozens of on-set photos of LaBella. He said the contested scene was not a rape scene but a foreshadowing sequence for two violent offscreen assaults referenced in the film's narrative. He added that LaBella 'was laughing and smiling during the blocking of the shot in question.'
Crew members also supported Costner's account. Stunt coordinator Wade Allen, who hired and oversaw LaBella, and Roger Ivens, the other performer in the scene, both stated she showed no signs of distress or discomfort on the day of filming.
Details of LaBella's allegations
LaBella, who worked as a stunt double for actress Ella Hunt, filed her lawsuit in May 2024, accusing Costner and the film's production companies of harassment, sexual discrimination, and creating a hostile work environment. She claimed she was subjected to a 'violent unscripted, unscheduled rape scene' directed by Costner in May 2023.
In June, she amended her lawsuit with text messages allegedly exchanged with intimacy coordinator Celeste Cheney. In them, LaBella described the incident as an 'abomination' and asked who would take responsibility for what she called an abuse of power on set.
Costner's legal defense
Costner's lawyer, Marty Singer, previously denied LaBella's accusations, saying she was rehearsing an insert shot for a scripted sequence. 'There was no intimacy or anything sexual in the shot,' Singer said, adding that multiple witnesses had contradicted her account.
Horizon's film journey
The lawsuit came at a challenging time for the Horizon franchise. The first film underperformed at the box office in May 2024, leading to the sequel being pulled from theaters and instead premiering at the Venice Film Festival in September. Despite the setback, two additional Horizon films remain in development.
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