'Horizon' Stuntwoman Alleges 'Humiliation' Over Unscripted Scene
Devyn LaBella, a stunt performer who worked on Kevin Costner's 'Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 2,' has amended her sexual harassment lawsuit against Costner and the production companies involved, alleging a deeply disturbing experience on set. The amended complaint details “shock, embarrassment and humiliation” LaBella claims she suffered during the filming of what she describes as an unscripted rape scene.
According to court documents filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court on Wednesday, June 18, LaBella's attorneys claim that the scene in question occurred on May 2, 2023. They allege that crucial safety measures were absent, stating that stunt coordinators, intimacy coordinators, or other professionals who typically ensure proper resets and safety protocols, including intimacy protections, were not present during the filming.
LaBella's amended complaint further alleges that Roger Ivens, the actor with whom she filmed the scene, did not separate from her between takes, leaving her in a state of confusion and uncertainty about when the scene was actively being filmed versus when the production was in between takes. This, she claims, contributed to her distress and feeling of violation.
Costner's Attorney Responds to the Allegations
Marty Singer, Kevin Costner's attorney, has issued a statement denying the allegations. According to reports, Singer asserts, “There was no intimacy or anything sexual in the shot.”
New Evidence Emerges: Text Messages and Intimacy Coordinator Report
The amended lawsuit includes new evidence, including text messages LaBella allegedly sent to Celeste Cheney, the film’s intimacy coordinator, the day after the unscripted scene. LaBella claims that no intimacy coordinator was present on set on May 2, 2023, when the scene was filmed.
The lawsuit also incorporates contracts and call sheets that LaBella claims support her assertion that the scene was unscripted, unapproved, and unsupervised. In one text message included in the filing, LaBella allegedly wrote to Cheney, “I wanted to discuss yesterday’s abomination when we both have a chance. I was put in a really wrong position, and it’s really affected me.”
LaBella's Statement: A Call for Accountability
In a statement to TheWrap, LaBella stated, “What happened to me on that set was a reckless violation — a breach of consent and of basic workplace safety. I was told to lie down, and without warning or rehearsal, another actor was brought in to simulate a rape on top of me. My undergarments were exposed. I was left alone afterward, overwhelmed and in shock.”
She added, “Compliance under pressure is not consent. Consent cannot be given after the harm has already begun. Once the line is crossed, there is no real choice left to make. I spoke up immediately. And for that, I was met with silence, deflection and efforts to discredit me. This case is not just about what happened to me. It’s about a broken system that protects those in power and punishes those who speak out.”
Costner's Alleged Involvement
While Costner was not part of the scene in question, the lawsuit alleges that he was “involved” or “fully aware of every single thing going on” during the production of “Horizon” and its sequel.
This is a developing story and we will continue to update with more information as it becomes available.