Kevin Costner slams stuntwoman suing him over 'violent', 'unscripted' rape scene in Horizon sequel

Daily Mail​

5 hours ago

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 an unscripted rape scene.
Devyn LaBella first alleged in a lawsuit last month that she was the victim of the 'violent' and 'unscheduled' scene while serving as a double for actress Ella Hunt in Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 2 in May 2023.
In an amended complaint filed on June 16, LaBella included text messages with the film's intimacy coordinator along with descriptions of the painful emotions she allegedly endured after the scene was completed.
Allegations: Devyn LaBella has claimed she was the victim of an 'unscheduled' rape scene in Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 2
But Costner's lawyer Marty Singer has slammed the latest allegations in a statement obtained by DailyMail.com, insisting there was 'no intimacy or anything sexual' in the shot.
Costner starred in and directed the epic Western film, which is a direct sequel to Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 1.
Costner's lawyer Singer said: 'LaBella was doing a rehearsal on an Insert Shot for a scripted scene. 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.'
Singer also claimed that LaBella thanked her supervisor for 'these wonderful weeks' in a text message sent following her wrap.
Singer added: 'Numerous witnesses have contradicted 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), the stuntwoman alleges the following day she was 'set to perform a non-intimate scene as a double' with Hunt.
She alleges that they learned the scenes would instead be filmed with male actor Roger Ivens, who 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 LaBella's 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 - whom the complaint notes was 'fully in charge of directing the action filmed' that day - allegedly directed Ivens 'to repeatedly perform a violent simulated rape on LaBella.'
The complaint reads: 'As directed by Costner, this unscripted, unrehearsed scene consisted of Ivens mounting LaBella while miming the unbuttoning of his pants, and using his body and arms to forcibly pin down LaBella, who was on her back underneath him.
'Ivens violently rustled 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: '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, Costner instructed LaBella to "lay down" as 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.
It notes: 'As Costner directed Ivens to carry out the violent assault over and over and over again, LaBella felt the air pour over her intimate parts as her personal undergarments were exposed, even though to LaBella's knowledge, costume underwear is typically worn in planned intimate shots
'This exposure was especially humiliating to LaBella as she was menstruating at the time, compounded by the fact that between takes, Ivens' hands rested on top of the bundled-up skirt above her vagina.
'Wardrobe immediately sewed up 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.'
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 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 she is 'suing for an undisclosed amount and wants a trial by jury'.
Costner's attorney 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.
Singer concluded: 'The facts are clear and we are beyond confident that Kevin will prevail.'
LaBella's attorney James 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'.