Latest news with #Horizon
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Stuntwoman suing Kevin Costner over rape scene hits back as her legal win in another A-lister case is used against her
The stuntwoman accusing Kevin Costner of forcing her to perform an unscripted rape scene in his $100 million Western film series has hit back against his lawyer's claims that she is a 'serial accuser'. Devyn LaBella alleged in a lawsuit filed in Los Angeles on Tuesday that she was the victim of a 'violent, unscripted, unscheduled rape scene' directed by Costner on the set of Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 2, in May 2023.
7NEWS
2 hours ago
- Entertainment
- 7NEWS
Kevin Costner hit with lawsuit over ‘violent' rape scene in Horizon 2 movie
Kevin Costner has been sued by a stunt performer from the set of Horizon 2, who claims she was put in an unscripted rape scene without warning or proper filming safety protocols. Devyn LaBella, 34, filed the lawsuit on Tuesday in Los Angeles County Superior Court against the Horizon series, production company Territory Pictures and Costner — the director, producer and star of the film series — alleging sexual harassment, hostile work environment and intentional infliction of emotional distress. The 'violent, unscripted, unscheduled' rape scene unfolded during filming in Utah on May 2, 2023, according to the complaint. LeBella said filming the scene filled her with shame, upended her career and left her reeling with permanent trauma. Horizon: An American Saga is a four-part series written, directed and produced by and starring Costner, chronicling the settlement of the American West. Chapter 1 of the series was released in June 2024, and Chapter 2 debuted at film festivals but has not had a theatrical release. Marty Singer, an attorney for Costner, said in a statement on Wednesday that LaBella's claim has 'absolutely no merit' and is 'completely contradicted by her own actions'. '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 a 'thumbs up' and indicated her willingness to then shoot the scene, if needed (which she was not),' Singer said. Attorneys for LaBella said the lawsuit seeks to 'address the continued failures at the highest levels of Hollywood production companies' and the need for intimacy coordination. The Horizon series and Territory Pictures did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The scene According to the lawsuit, LaBella had entered into a SAG-AFTRA contract with the movie company as the lead stunt double for the series' lead actor, Ella Hunt. In her role, 'LaBella's job was to step in for the actor during physical scenes and to perform the stunt while the cameras were rolling,' the complaint said. 'Such scenes are usually rehearsed and choreographed to ensure safety and accuracy.' For the first few weeks on set in spring 2023, she performed her stunts without incident. Then, things 'changed drastically' on May 2, the complaint said. When Hunt arrived on set that day, she learned that Costner had requested additional scenes not on the call sheet in which actor Roger Ivens was to climb on top of her and violently hike up her skirt, simulating a rape scene, the complaint said. The scene was not specified for that day, no closed set was specified, and no arrangements were made for the set's intimacy coordinator to be present during filming, the filing said. '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 complaint said. LaBella was unaware that Hunt had left, and Costner asked her to 'stand in' for Hunt to 'line up (a) shot', the complaint said. LaBella was not a stand-in performer, and such a task was not within her scope as a stunt double, but she agreed. She was not warned about the sexual nature of the scene, which she learned about when Ivens was already on top of her in a wagon and violently pulled up her skirt, the complaint said, adding Costner was fully in charge of directing the action filmed that day. 'Without proper notice, consent, preparation or appropriate safeguard measures in place, such as the project's intimacy coordinator being called in, Defendant Costner directed Mr. Ivens to repeatedly perform a violent simulated rape on Ms. LaBella,' the complaint said. The suit says such a scene is in violation of SAG-AFTRA rules that mandate a performer doing a scene simulating sex must have written consent in the form of a rider that must be provided at least 48 hours before call time. SAG-AFTRA also prohibits such last-minute changes. The movie set failed to supply details of the scene on the call sheet in advance, failed to have rehearsals and did not provide an intimacy coordinator, and the set was not closed, the complaint said. Furthermore, despite the privacy of the scene, it was broadcast publicly on monitors for the entire crew to witness while the set was open, the complaint said. 'Indeed, there were multiple onlookers along with the producers watching this scene unfold on monitors in the video village,' it said. The complaint alleged that Costner also failed to consistently announce 'action' and 'cut' to make it clear when the scene began or ended. It also said there were no breaks in which the actors separated to reset. LaBella could not escape the situation, and all she could do was 'wait for the nightmare to end,' the complaint said. The suit said the movie set filmed a rape scene the previous day, May 1, in which, in sharp contrast with May 2, all the proper safety protocols were followed. The aftermath After the scene, LaBella was left in the wagon alone, feeling shocked, embarrassed and humiliated and holding back tears, the complaint said. After her stunt coordinator saw she was upset, she was told the production team would use a body double for such scenes in the future. She met with her stunt coordinator and two other stunt coordinators for dinner and expressed her concern and outrage, but the male attendees 'blamed her for not speaking up', the suit alleged. Singer, Costner's attorney, rebutted the claim, saying LaBella had dinner with her supervising stunt coordinator and was in 'good spirits and made no complaints to them'. The day after the filming, LaBella also contacted the intimacy coordinator and told her about what happened, according to the lawsuit. LaBella suffered bouts of crying on and off set in the following days, the complaint said. She went home to spend time with her family for a few days. But when she returned to set, she found that the production team was 'now extra careful' around her, and she was directed to stay alone in her trailer and not be present on set, according to the complaint. In June 2023, LaBella began therapy to address symptoms from the traumatic experience, 'including intrusive distressing memories', sleep disturbance, fears of intimacy, and anxiety, it said. After her complaints of sexual harassment on set, LaBella was not hired back to continue as a stunt double for Horizon 3, which began filming in early 2024. She also was not hired again for any other projects by her stunt coordinator, according to the complaint. 'On that day, I was left exposed, unprotected, and deeply betrayed by a system that promised safety and professionalism,' LaBella said in a statement on Wednesday. 'What happened to me shattered my trust and forever changed how I move through this industry. '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.' The suit alleges sexual discrimination, sexual harassment, creation of a hostile work environment based on sex, failure to remedy/prevent discrimination and harassment, retaliation and intentional infliction of emotional distress. It seeks compensatory and punitive damages and asks that the defendants submit to anti-sexual harassment and anti-sexual violence training, that the defendants be required to engage an intimacy coordinator on all future productions and that the defendants issue a public apology to LaBella.
7NEWS
3 hours ago
- Entertainment
- 7NEWS
Kevin Costner hit with lawsuit over rape scene from the set of Horizon 2 movie
Kevin Costner has been sued by a stunt performer from the set of Horizon 2, who claims she was put in an unscripted rape scene without warning or proper filming safety protocols. Devyn LaBella, 34, filed the lawsuit on Tuesday in Los Angeles County Superior Court against the Horizon series, production company Territory Pictures and Costner — the director, producer and star of the film series — alleging sexual harassment, hostile work environment and intentional infliction of emotional distress. The 'violent, unscripted, unscheduled' rape scene unfolded during filming in Utah on May 2, 2023, according to the complaint. LeBella said filming the scene filled her with shame, upended her career and left her reeling with permanent trauma. Horizon: An American Saga is a four-part series written, directed and produced by and starring Costner, chronicling the settlement of the American West. Chapter 1 of the series was released in June 2024, and Chapter 2 debuted at film festivals but has not had a theatrical release. Marty Singer, an attorney for Costner, said in a statement on Wednesday that LaBella's claim has 'absolutely no merit' and is 'completely contradicted by her own actions'. '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 a 'thumbs up' and indicated her willingness to then shoot the scene, if needed (which she was not),' Singer said. Attorneys for LaBella said the lawsuit seeks to 'address the continued failures at the highest levels of Hollywood production companies' and the need for intimacy coordination. The Horizon series and Territory Pictures did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The scene According to the lawsuit, LaBella had entered into a SAG-AFTRA contract with the movie company as the lead stunt double for the series' lead actor, Ella Hunt. In her role, 'LaBella's job was to step in for the actor during physical scenes and to perform the stunt while the cameras were rolling,' the complaint said. 'Such scenes are usually rehearsed and choreographed to ensure safety and accuracy.' For the first few weeks on set in spring 2023, she performed her stunts without incident. Then, things 'changed drastically' on May 2, the complaint said. When Hunt arrived on set that day, she learned that Costner had requested additional scenes not on the call sheet in which actor Roger Ivens was to climb on top of her and violently hike up her skirt, simulating a rape scene, the complaint said. The scene was not specified for that day, no closed set was specified, and no arrangements were made for the set's intimacy coordinator to be present during filming, the filing said. '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 complaint said. LaBella was unaware that Hunt had left, and Costner asked her to 'stand in' for Hunt to 'line up (a) shot', the complaint said. LaBella was not a stand-in performer, and such a task was not within her scope as a stunt double, but she agreed. She was not warned about the sexual nature of the scene, which she learned about when Ivens was already on top of her in a wagon and violently pulled up her skirt, the complaint said, adding Costner was fully in charge of directing the action filmed that day. 'Without proper notice, consent, preparation or appropriate safeguard measures in place, such as the project's intimacy coordinator being called in, Defendant Costner directed Mr. Ivens to repeatedly perform a violent simulated rape on Ms. LaBella,' the complaint said. The suit says such a scene is in violation of SAG-AFTRA rules that mandate a performer doing a scene simulating sex must have written consent in the form of a rider that must be provided at least 48 hours before call time. SAG-AFTRA also prohibits such last-minute changes. The movie set failed to supply details of the scene on the call sheet in advance, failed to have rehearsals and did not provide an intimacy coordinator, and the set was not closed, the complaint said. Furthermore, despite the privacy of the scene, it was broadcast publicly on monitors for the entire crew to witness while the set was open, the complaint said. 'Indeed, there were multiple onlookers along with the producers watching this scene unfold on monitors in the video village,' it said. The complaint alleged that Costner also failed to consistently announce 'action' and 'cut' to make it clear when the scene began or ended. It also said there were no breaks in which the actors separated to reset. LaBella could not escape the situation, and all she could do was 'wait for the nightmare to end,' the complaint said. The suit said the movie set filmed a rape scene the previous day, May 1, in which, in sharp contrast with May 2, all the proper safety protocols were followed. The aftermath After the scene, LaBella was left in the wagon alone, feeling shocked, embarrassed and humiliated and holding back tears, the complaint said. After her stunt coordinator saw she was upset, she was told the production team would use a body double for such scenes in the future. She met with her stunt coordinator and two other stunt coordinators for dinner and expressed her concern and outrage, but the male attendees 'blamed her for not speaking up', the suit alleged. Singer, Costner's attorney, rebutted the claim, saying LaBella had dinner with her supervising stunt coordinator and was in 'good spirits and made no complaints to them'. The day after the filming, LaBella also contacted the intimacy coordinator and told her about what happened, according to the lawsuit. LaBella suffered bouts of crying on and off set in the following days, the complaint said. She went home to spend time with her family for a few days. But when she returned to set, she found that the production team was 'now extra careful' around her, and she was directed to stay alone in her trailer and not be present on set, according to the complaint. In June 2023, LaBella began therapy to address symptoms from the traumatic experience, 'including intrusive distressing memories', sleep disturbance, fears of intimacy, and anxiety, it said. After her complaints of sexual harassment on set, LaBella was not hired back to continue as a stunt double for Horizon 3, which began filming in early 2024. She also was not hired again for any other projects by her stunt coordinator, according to the complaint. 'On that day, I was left exposed, unprotected, and deeply betrayed by a system that promised safety and professionalism,' LaBella said in a statement on Wednesday. 'What happened to me shattered my trust and forever changed how I move through this industry. '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.' The suit alleges sexual discrimination, sexual harassment, creation of a hostile work environment based on sex, failure to remedy/prevent discrimination and harassment, retaliation and intentional infliction of emotional distress. It seeks compensatory and punitive damages and asks that the defendants submit to anti-sexual harassment and anti-sexual violence training, that the defendants be required to engage an intimacy coordinator on all future productions and that the defendants issue a public apology to LaBella.
The Advertiser
4 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Advertiser
Stunt performer sues Kevin Costner over rape scene
A stunt performer has sued Kevin Costner, alleging she was subjected to an unscripted rape scene without proper warning, consent or protocols while shooting his film Horizon: An American Saga: Chapter 2. Devyn LaBella filed the lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court. It names Costner - the director, star and co-writer of the Horizon series of Westerns - and its production companies as defendants. "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 lawsuit says. Costner's lawyer said the lawsuit has no merit, and LaBella's assertions are contradicted by both the facts and her behaviour. A former gymnast, the 34-year-old LaBella has worked steadily as a Hollywood stunt performer since 2020, with credits including Barbie and Yellowjackets. LaBella's lawsuit says she was the stunt double for one of the Horizon leads, Ella Hunt, throughout the production. 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 lawsuit says. For that scene, protocols were followed, including meetings, rehearsals, the presence of an intimacy coordinator and minimal crew. But it alleges 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 says 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. "There was no escaping the situation, and all Ms LaBella could do was wait for the nightmare to end," the suit says. It alleges that safeguards were ignored in violation of union contracts and industry standards. Costner's lawyer, Martin Singer, said while the Hollywood actor wants everyone to be comfortable on his sets, LaBella's claim has "absolutely no merit, and it is completely contradicted by her own actions - and the facts." "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 a 'thumbs up' and indicated her willingness to then shoot the scene, if needed (which she was not)," Singer said in a statement. "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 co-ordinator to a thank-you dinner." Singer provided an image of a text message LaBella sent her stunt coordinator at the end of production saying, "Thank you for these wonderful weeks!" Singer said LaBella "is a serial accuser of people in the entertainment industry." The lawsuit seeks damages in an amount to be determined at trial, and it seeks a judge's order for the defendants to undergo sexual harassment training, to be required to use an intimacy co-ordinator on future productions and to issue LaBella a public apology. 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028 Lifeline 13 11 14 Men's Referral Service 1300 766 491 A stunt performer has sued Kevin Costner, alleging she was subjected to an unscripted rape scene without proper warning, consent or protocols while shooting his film Horizon: An American Saga: Chapter 2. Devyn LaBella filed the lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court. It names Costner - the director, star and co-writer of the Horizon series of Westerns - and its production companies as defendants. "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 lawsuit says. Costner's lawyer said the lawsuit has no merit, and LaBella's assertions are contradicted by both the facts and her behaviour. A former gymnast, the 34-year-old LaBella has worked steadily as a Hollywood stunt performer since 2020, with credits including Barbie and Yellowjackets. LaBella's lawsuit says she was the stunt double for one of the Horizon leads, Ella Hunt, throughout the production. 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 lawsuit says. For that scene, protocols were followed, including meetings, rehearsals, the presence of an intimacy coordinator and minimal crew. But it alleges 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 says 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. "There was no escaping the situation, and all Ms LaBella could do was wait for the nightmare to end," the suit says. It alleges that safeguards were ignored in violation of union contracts and industry standards. Costner's lawyer, Martin Singer, said while the Hollywood actor wants everyone to be comfortable on his sets, LaBella's claim has "absolutely no merit, and it is completely contradicted by her own actions - and the facts." "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 a 'thumbs up' and indicated her willingness to then shoot the scene, if needed (which she was not)," Singer said in a statement. "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 co-ordinator to a thank-you dinner." Singer provided an image of a text message LaBella sent her stunt coordinator at the end of production saying, "Thank you for these wonderful weeks!" Singer said LaBella "is a serial accuser of people in the entertainment industry." The lawsuit seeks damages in an amount to be determined at trial, and it seeks a judge's order for the defendants to undergo sexual harassment training, to be required to use an intimacy co-ordinator on future productions and to issue LaBella a public apology. 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028 Lifeline 13 11 14 Men's Referral Service 1300 766 491 A stunt performer has sued Kevin Costner, alleging she was subjected to an unscripted rape scene without proper warning, consent or protocols while shooting his film Horizon: An American Saga: Chapter 2. Devyn LaBella filed the lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court. It names Costner - the director, star and co-writer of the Horizon series of Westerns - and its production companies as defendants. "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 lawsuit says. Costner's lawyer said the lawsuit has no merit, and LaBella's assertions are contradicted by both the facts and her behaviour. A former gymnast, the 34-year-old LaBella has worked steadily as a Hollywood stunt performer since 2020, with credits including Barbie and Yellowjackets. LaBella's lawsuit says she was the stunt double for one of the Horizon leads, Ella Hunt, throughout the production. 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 lawsuit says. For that scene, protocols were followed, including meetings, rehearsals, the presence of an intimacy coordinator and minimal crew. But it alleges 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 says 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. "There was no escaping the situation, and all Ms LaBella could do was wait for the nightmare to end," the suit says. It alleges that safeguards were ignored in violation of union contracts and industry standards. Costner's lawyer, Martin Singer, said while the Hollywood actor wants everyone to be comfortable on his sets, LaBella's claim has "absolutely no merit, and it is completely contradicted by her own actions - and the facts." "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 a 'thumbs up' and indicated her willingness to then shoot the scene, if needed (which she was not)," Singer said in a statement. "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 co-ordinator to a thank-you dinner." Singer provided an image of a text message LaBella sent her stunt coordinator at the end of production saying, "Thank you for these wonderful weeks!" Singer said LaBella "is a serial accuser of people in the entertainment industry." The lawsuit seeks damages in an amount to be determined at trial, and it seeks a judge's order for the defendants to undergo sexual harassment training, to be required to use an intimacy co-ordinator on future productions and to issue LaBella a public apology. 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028 Lifeline 13 11 14 Men's Referral Service 1300 766 491 A stunt performer has sued Kevin Costner, alleging she was subjected to an unscripted rape scene without proper warning, consent or protocols while shooting his film Horizon: An American Saga: Chapter 2. Devyn LaBella filed the lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court. It names Costner - the director, star and co-writer of the Horizon series of Westerns - and its production companies as defendants. "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 lawsuit says. Costner's lawyer said the lawsuit has no merit, and LaBella's assertions are contradicted by both the facts and her behaviour. A former gymnast, the 34-year-old LaBella has worked steadily as a Hollywood stunt performer since 2020, with credits including Barbie and Yellowjackets. LaBella's lawsuit says she was the stunt double for one of the Horizon leads, Ella Hunt, throughout the production. 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 lawsuit says. For that scene, protocols were followed, including meetings, rehearsals, the presence of an intimacy coordinator and minimal crew. But it alleges 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 says 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. "There was no escaping the situation, and all Ms LaBella could do was wait for the nightmare to end," the suit says. It alleges that safeguards were ignored in violation of union contracts and industry standards. Costner's lawyer, Martin Singer, said while the Hollywood actor wants everyone to be comfortable on his sets, LaBella's claim has "absolutely no merit, and it is completely contradicted by her own actions - and the facts." "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 a 'thumbs up' and indicated her willingness to then shoot the scene, if needed (which she was not)," Singer said in a statement. "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 co-ordinator to a thank-you dinner." Singer provided an image of a text message LaBella sent her stunt coordinator at the end of production saying, "Thank you for these wonderful weeks!" Singer said LaBella "is a serial accuser of people in the entertainment industry." The lawsuit seeks damages in an amount to be determined at trial, and it seeks a judge's order for the defendants to undergo sexual harassment training, to be required to use an intimacy co-ordinator on future productions and to issue LaBella a public apology. 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028 Lifeline 13 11 14 Men's Referral Service 1300 766 491
Belfast Telegraph
4 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Belfast Telegraph
Stunt performer sues Kevin Costner over rape scene in Horizon film
Devyn LaBella filed the lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court. It names Costner — the director, star and co-writer of the Horizon series of Westerns — and its production companies as defendants. '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 lawsuit says. Costner's lawyer said the lawsuit has no merit, and LaBella's assertions are contradicted by both the facts and her behaviour. Former gymnast LaBella, 34, has worked as a Hollywood stunt performer since 2020, with credits including Barbie and Yellowjackets. LaBella's lawsuit says she was the stunt double for one of the Horizon leads, Ella Hunt, throughout the production. 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 lawsuit says. For that scene, protocols were followed including meetings, rehearsals, the presence of an intimacy coordinator and minimal crew. But it alleges 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 says 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. 'There was no escaping the situation, and all Ms LaBella could do was wait for the nightmare to end,' the suit says. It alleges that safeguards were ignored in violation of union contracts and industry standards. Costner's attorney Martin Singer said that while his client wants everyone to be comfortable on his sets, LaBella's claim has 'absolutely no merit, and it is completely contradicted by her own actions – and the facts'. '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 a 'thumbs up' and indicated her willingness to then shoot the scene, if needed (which she was not),' Singer said in a statement. '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.' Mr Singer provided an image of a text message LaBella sent her stunt coordinator at the end of production saying 'thank you for these wonderful weeks!'. Mr Singer said LaBella 'is a serial accuser of people in the entertainment industry' but her 'shakedown tactics won't work in this case'. The lawsuit says the rest of the shoot brought LaBella 'continuous reminders of the shame, humiliation and complete lack of control she had experienced during the May 2 filming; she experienced sudden bouts of crying on and off set'.
