Kevin Costner Moves to Dismiss ‘Horizon’ Harassment Suit, Accuses Plaintiff of Smearing His Name

In May, stunt performer Devyn LaBella accused the production of Horizon of forcing her to perform a violent rape scene without prior notice, consent, or an intimacy coordinator, as required by union rules.

Now, Kevin Costner is pushing back, calling LaBella’s sexual harassment lawsuit a calculated attempt to damage his reputation in a recent filing to dismiss the case. Costner, who starred in, directed, and personally financed the western film Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 2, strongly denies the allegations.

“Devyn’s claims are completely false,” Costner said. “It is deeply disappointing that someone from our production would accuse me or my team of making them feel uncomfortable or invent such a nightmare. I believe these claims were made with false statements and sensational language designed to harm my reputation and the film.”

Costner’s legal team is seeking to dismiss the case using California’s anti-SLAPP statute, with a hearing scheduled for September 18 in Los Angeles.

LaBella’s lawsuit alleges not only that she was forced into the scene without proper notice, consent, or an intimacy coordinator, but also that she faced retaliation after reporting the incident—being excluded from further work on the Horizon series and blacklisted by the stunt coordinator.

In her May filing, LaBella stated, “I was left exposed, unprotected, and deeply betrayed by a system that promised safety and professionalism. This experience shattered my trust and changed how I navigate this industry.”

The lawsuit also claims that Ella Hunt, the lead actress for whom LaBella performed stunts, walked off the set visibly upset after Costner informed her about the sudden addition of the rape scene. The scene was not included on the day’s call sheet, and LaBella only realized the nature of the scene when another stunt performer was brought in to simulate sexual contact with her.

“Compliance under pressure is not consent,” LaBella said in an amended statement. “Consent cannot be given after harm has started. Once the line is crossed, there is no real choice left. I spoke up immediately but was met with silence, deflection, and efforts to discredit me. This case is about a broken system that protects those in power and punishes those who speak out.”