Kevin Costner: “Horizon” stunt woman raises serious allegations

A stunt actress of “Horizon: An American Saga-Chapter 2” sued Kevin Costner (70) on May 27, as several US media unanimously report. She claims that it has been forced to a rape scene not contained in the script without corresponding protocols.

Devyn Labella was the stunt double of Ella Hunt (27), who played the role of Juliette in the “Horizon” western films. According to Labella’s lawsuit, director Costner improvised a scene in which Hunt’s figure was to be raped. The actress refused to play the scene, the lawsuit said. Labella was then used as a double without warning, preparation or approval and without the presence of an intimacy coordinator. According to the lawsuit, the male actor was instructed to capture her and to pull her skirt up violently. The set was not locked up.

The stunt woman humiliated and traumatized the experience. “On this day I was defenseless and deeply cheated by a system that promised security and professionalism,” said Labella in an explanation. “What happened to me has shaken my trust and changed my way of moving me in this industry.”

In the lawsuit it is claimed that the scene violated the protocols negotiated by the Sag-Aftra actor union, including the requirement of a 48-hour notice and approval for all scenes with nudity or simulated sex.

The incident is said to have occurred on May 2, 2023 at the set in Utah. Labella had already played in a planned rape scene the day before, which was professionally implemented, the lawsuit said. There were rehearsals for this scene, an intimate coordinator was present and the set was cordoned off.

“This case is a clear example of the male-dominated sexist Hollywood film production,” said Kate McFarlane, one of the applicant’s lawyers. “Our client was exposed to brutal sexual behavior and had no protection against obvious injuries.”

Kevin Costner denied the allegations by his lawyer Marty Singer. In an explanation, Singer said that Costner “always wanted to make sure that everyone feels comfortable when working on his films and take the security on the set very seriously”. The stunt woman is “a serial plaintiff against people from the entertainment industry”. “But this blackmail tactic will not work in this case.”

According to Singer, Labella was explained to the scene and after a rehearsal she gave her stunt coordinator a “thumbs up”, which signaled her willingness to film the scene. In the evening she had dinner with the stunt coordinators, was a “good mood” and complained “about nothing with them”.