Last month, we reported that the Hollywood star Kevin Costner is being sued by a stuntwoman over an incident that allegedly took place on the set of his movie Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 2. Now, Costner is firing back at her in a big way.
Costner Responds To Lawsuit
Stuntwoman Devyn LaBella, 30, is alleging that she was forced to perform a “violent, unscripted rape scene” on the set of Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 2 without her consent.
Costner’s attorney Marty Singer, however, is not having any of it.
“Ms. LaBella was doing a rehearsal on an Insert Shot for a scripted scene. There was no intimacy or anything sexual in the shot,” Singer told Fox News. “There was tugging on a dress while she was fully clothed in a dress with long bloomers lying down next to a male actor.”
“Numerous witnesses have contradicted Ms. LaBella’s meritless claims,” Singer added.
Singer went on to allege that LaBella texted her supervisor after she wrapped, “stating, ‘Thank you for these wonderful weeks.’”
“We look forward to the swift end of this specious lawsuit,” Singer concluded.
Related: Kevin Costner Hit With Disturbing Lawsuit Involving ‘Violent Unscripted’ Scene From ‘Horizon 2’
LaBella’s Complaint
This comes after LaBella’s legal team amended their complaint. They now allege that on May 2, 2023, a scene was shot without any stunt or intimacy coordinators on set.
“What happened to me on that set was a reckless violation — a breach of consent and of basic workplace safety,” LaBella said in a statement of her own. “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. Compliance under pressure is not consent. Consent cannot be given after the harm has already begun,” she continued. “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,” LaBella concluded. “It’s about demanding change, not just for me but for everyone who deserves to work in safety and dignity. What happened on that set was wrong. Let it be known: I stood up. I told the truth. And I will never apologize for demanding the bare minimum — to be treated like a human being at work.”
Related: Kevin Costner, 70, Gets Ultimate Revenge Over Ex-Wife As She Prepares To Marry His Former Friend
LaBella’s Initial Lawsuit
Last month, LaBella claimed that she performed an unscripted rape scene without proper notice, consent or the mandatory presence of an intimacy coordinator on the set of Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 2.
“On May 2, 2023, plaintiff Devyn LaBella, a female stunt performer, was the victim of a violent, unscripted, unscheduled rape scene directed by Kevin Costner,” her initial complaint stated.
Costner, 70, responded by saying that LaBella’s lawsuit “has absolutely no merit.”
“The impact of this impromptu work demand on Ms. LaBella has been profound, not only upending a career Ms. LaBella spent years building but leaving her with permanent trauma that she will be required to address for years to come,” Costner’s legal team claimed.
LaBella is suing for unspecified compensatory and punitive damages. She is requesting a trial by jury.
Costner is attempting to make Horizon into a four-part movie series. Only time will tell how this lawsuit impacts that.
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