Costner Refutes Lawsuit Over Rape Scene Claim as ‘Bold-Faced Lie’
Kevin Costner Denies Allegations in Lawsuit Over Unscripted Assault Scene on Film Set
Kevin Costner has strongly denied allegations made in a lawsuit filed by stunt performer Devyn LaBella, who claims she was coerced into filming an unscripted and violent simulated rape scene during production of Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 2.
In a legal declaration filed on Monday in Los Angeles Superior Court, Costner described the breach of contract lawsuit, originally filed in May, as a “bold-faced lie” intended to harm his reputation. He is seeking dismissal of the case under California’s anti-SLAPP statute, which protects against lawsuits that aim to silence free speech through intimidation.
LaBella, who served as a stunt double for lead actor Ella Hunt, alleges that on May 2, 2023, she was unexpectedly directed to participate in an improvised assault scene after Hunt declined to perform it. This followed a previously scripted rape scene involving a different character. LaBella claims she was not informed about the change or Hunt’s refusal, and was called to set without consent, proper notice, or the presence of a mandatory intimacy coordinator.
According to the complaint, LaBella was not warned that a new male actor would physically mount her, pin her down, and simulate a violent sexual assault. She alleges that Costner instructed her to lie down before directing the male actor through multiple takes of the scene, which she says violated both her contract and industry standards.
LaBella’s lawsuit cites violations of SAG-AFTRA protocols, which require at least 48 hours’ notice and consent for any scenes involving nudity or simulated sex. She further claims she lacked appropriate modesty garments and that the required intimacy coordinator, whose services were contractually guaranteed through Hunt’s agreement, was not present.
In a later amendment to the complaint, Celeste Chaney, the film’s intimacy coordinator, backed LaBella’s version of events. Chaney described the incident as “unscheduled” and “unplanned,” stating that the action was not consented to and that LaBella lacked the protective gear required for such scenes.
In response, Costner’s legal team presented an alternative account, emphasizing a text message sent by LaBella to her supervisor nine days after the alleged incident. In the message, LaBella expressed gratitude and described the experience as positive. “There was no anger or resentment, only enthusiasm and gratitude,” Costner’s attorney, Marty Singer, wrote in the court filing.
Costner’s filing also includes sworn statements from a dozen crew members and photographs from the scene, asserting that the claims are false. According to the defense, the filmed sequence was not an actual rape scene but rather a precursor to events that occur off-screen.
LaBella contends she raised concerns to colleagues at the time but continued working to maintain professionalism. She is seeking unspecified damages, citing career disruption and emotional trauma. Additionally, she requests that all of Costner’s future productions include an intimacy coordinator and that involved parties undergo anti-sexual harassment training.
Horizon: An American Saga is a major personal project for Costner, who invested $38 million of his own money into the first two films, which had an estimated combined budget of $100 million. Despite high expectations, Chapter 1 underperformed at the box office, earning just $38.7 million globally after its June 2024 release. Chapter 2 premiered at the Venice Film Festival in September 2024, though its general release date remains unannounced.
