Latest news with #Horizon:AnAmericanSaga
Epoch Times
21 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Epoch Times
Kevin Costner Sued by ‘Horizon 2' Stunt Performer Over Alleged Unscripted Rape Scene
A female stunt performer has sued Kevin Costner over claims she was required to participate in a 'violent unscripted, unscheduled rape scene' while filming the second installment of the award-winning actor's four-part Western movie series, 'Horizon: An American Saga.' Devyn LaBella filed the lawsuit in the Los Angeles County Superior Court on Tuesday, accusing Costner and the film's production companies of a host of complaints, including sexual discrimination and harassment, creating a hostile work environment, intentionally inflicting emotional distress, and breach of contract.
The Star
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Star
Kevin Costner sued by stunt performer over unscripted rape scene
FILE - Kevin Costner arrives at the 15th Governors Awards on Nov. 17, 2024, at The Ray Dolby Ballroom in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP, File) Kevin Costner was sued Tuesday by Ella Hunt's stunt double for allegedly forcing her to act in an unscripted and violent rape scene in the unreleased second part of his 'Horizon' saga. Devyn LaBella is seeking a jury trial as she accuses 70-year-old Costner — who starred in, directed and co-wrote Horizon: An American Saga — of sexual discrimination, hostile work environment, sexual harassment, failure to remedy/prevent discrimination and harassment, retaliation, interference with the exercise of civil rights, intentional infliction of distress and breach of contract, according to the complaint obtained by Variety . LaBella, 34, claims in her suit that, on May 2, 2023, she 'was the victim of a violent unscripted, unscheduled rape scene,' directed by the Yellowstone star. LaBella says she suffered 'permanent trauma' and that her career came 'to an abrupt halt.' 'For the first several weeks, Ms LaBella professionally performed her stunts without incident. However, this experience changed dramatically. Due to its very physical nature, Defendants informed Ms LaBella she would be doubling for the majority of a scripted, aggressive and intimate rape scene between Ms Hunt's character 'Juliette' and 'Sig,' played by Douglas Smith,' reads the complaint. On May 2, a day after the scene in question went off with protocols in place, Costner allegedly 'asked Ms. LaBella to 'stand in' for Ms Hunt to 'line up [a] shot'' in the rape scene that was added impromptu, in violation of SAG-AFTRA protocol, and featuring the character Birke, played by '6'2″, 220lbs.' Roger Ivens. Though it 'was not within the scope of her role as a stunt double,' LaBella 'agreed to help,' though she was allegedly unaware Hunt 'walked off the set, refusing to do the scene.' Though LaBella's intimacy scenes required an intimacy coordinator's presence — as an extension of Hunt's own contract — the complaint states that, 'Crucially, no arrangements were made for Ms Chaney or any other intimacy coordinator to be present during filming' of the new shots. The complaint says Costner was present throughout the filming of the scene and 'very 'hands on" and was either involved in or fully aware of every single thing going on. '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 lawsuit alleges. 'There was no escaping the situation, and all Ms LaBella could do was wait for the nightmare to end. … She experienced shock, embarrassment and humiliation while attempting to process the situation.' After alleging sexual harassment on set, LaBella was not hired to return for the third instalment of the film series, which started filming in early 2024, per the complaint. She says that though she was previously regularly hired for the stunt coordinator's projects, he has not brought her on to anything since. LaBella says she filed complaints with the California Civil Rights Division in February 2024 and again in November. The pre- and post-Civil War epic, Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 1, hit theatres in June. After dismal box office numbers, the second installment — planned for August 2024 — was pulled from theatrical slates. The third and fourth chapters have not yet been scheduled. The Daily News has reached out to a representative for Costner for additional comment. – New York Daily News/Tribune News Service
Straits Times
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Straits Times
Kevin Costner sued by stunt performer over ‘unscripted' rape scene in Horizon 2
Kevin Costner is both the director and star of the Horizon: An American Saga film series. PHOTO: HORIZONAMERICANSAGA/INSTAGRAM LOS ANGELES - A stunt double who worked on the Western film, Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 2 (2024), sued its director Kevin Costner and producers on May 27 for what she called forced participation in a 'violent unscripted, unscheduled rape scene' without advance notice or an intimacy coordinator. The plaintiff, Ms Devyn LaBella, was the lead stunt double for English actress Ella Hunt, who plays Juliette Chesney in the film. Ms LaBella said she was left with permanent trauma after the scene and was seeking a public apology and unspecified compensatory and punitive damages. A lawyer for Costner, who also stars in the film, said the claims were meritless. According to Ms LaBella's complaint, the unscripted rape scene took place in May 2023, one day after she had filmed a similar one without incident. Costner, the suit said, inserted additional scenes to be shot with a different male actor in which he would climb on top of Hunt and violently rake up her skirt. The additions, the suit said, were not outlined in the day's call sheet, and no arrangements were made for an intimacy coordinator, who works with actors before and during scenes involving nudity or simulated sex to make sure they are comfortable. 'Ms Hunt became visibly upset and walked off the set, refusing to do the scene,' the complaint said. At that point, Ms LaBella was asked to stand in. She had not been prepared for the scene, the suit said, and learned its details after filming had begun. There were multiple takes of the scene, according to the lawsuit. Horizon 2 was the planned second instalment of a four-part film series by Costner, 70. After the first chapter, which cost US$100 million (S$129 million) to make, earned US$11 million in its opening weekend in June 2024, the second chapter's theatrical release was cancelled. Mr Marty Singer, Costner's lawyer, said in a statement that Ms LaBella's claims contradicted her own actions and that she was using 'shakedown tactics' that would not work. He said the scene in question was explained to her, who rehearsed it and gave an indication that she was willing to film it. The lawsuit by Ms LaBella, which was filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court, states that the added scene also violated her union contract, which prohibits last-minute requests for nudity or simulated sex. The union, SAG-Aftra, requires producers to provide at least 48 hours' notice before call time to negotiate a written contract rider for simulated sex and obtain a performer's consent. A union representative did not respond to a request for comment. After that day of filming, Ms LaBella said, she felt shame and humiliation and flew home for a few days before returning to work. Several people apologised and made excuses for Costner, the lawsuit said, which made her feel 'even more uncomfortable'. Mr Singer's statement said that after filming had wrapped, Ms LaBella took the stunt coordinator to a thank-you dinner. 'She also sent him a cordial thank-you text illustrated with happy heart emojis,' the statement said. 'The facts are clear and we are beyond confident that Kevin will prevail.' NYTIMES Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
7NEWS
3 days 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 days 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.
