Kevin Costner Denies Allegations in Lawsuit Related to Western Box Office Bomb
Kevin Costner Denies Sexual Harassment Allegations, Calls Lawsuit “A Bold-Faced Lie”
Kevin Costner is pushing back forcefully against a sexual harassment lawsuit brought by stunt performer Devyn LaBella, calling the claims “a bold-faced lie” and accusing LaBella of attempting to damage his reputation and sabotage his ambitious film series Horizon.
LaBella, who worked as a stunt double on Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 2, filed a lawsuit earlier this year alleging she was forced to perform a violent and unscripted rape scene in May 2023—without consent, safety gear, or an intimacy coordinator on set. She claims Costner personally directed the scene and that the experience left her traumatized and endangered her career. Her legal complaint also urges the court to mandate the use of intimacy coordinators in all of Costner’s future productions.
Costner has categorically denied the accusations in a sworn declaration filed Monday in Los Angeles Superior Court.
“Devyn’s claims against me are absolutely false,” he stated. “It is deeply disappointing that someone from our team would fabricate such a ‘nightmare’ scenario. These allegations are so blatantly untrue that I can only conclude they were crafted to damage both me and the Horizon films in an effort to secure an undeserved payout.”
Costner’s legal team, led by high-profile attorney Marty Singer, has filed a motion to dismiss the case under California’s anti-SLAPP statute, which is designed to prevent frivolous lawsuits targeting free speech. The court has scheduled a hearing for September 18.
In their defense, Costner’s team submitted testimony from over a dozen crew members and photos they say disprove LaBella’s account. They also cited a message LaBella allegedly sent to her supervisor a week after the scene, thanking them—something they argue contradicts the tone and claims of her lawsuit.
However, not all voices from the production support Costner’s version of events. Celeste Chaney, an intimacy coordinator who worked on the film, submitted a statement backing LaBella’s story. Chaney described the scene in question as “unscheduled” and “unplanned,” and claimed LaBella had not been given proper safety coverings or consented to the actions during filming.
Trouble Behind the Scenes of Horizon
The legal battle is just the latest hurdle for Costner’s Horizon project, which he has personally financed and described as a passion project. The first installment, Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1, premiered at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival but struggled at the box office, earning only $38.7 million globally—far short of expectations.
While Chapter 2 had its debut at the Venice Film Festival, its planned theatrical release was abruptly pulled in August. Costner has since confirmed that production on Horizon: Chapter 3 has yet to begin, casting further doubt on the future of the saga.
Calling the lawsuit “an absolute nightmare,” Costner emphasized his determination to defend both his name and his work.
“The truth matters,” he said. “That’s why, despite the high personal and financial cost of this lawsuit, I will continue to speak out—to protect myself, my crew, and the integrity of this project from false allegations.”
