Earlier this year, we reported that the Hollywood star Kevin Costner is being sued for sexual harassment 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 by claiming that these sexual harassment claims are “absolutely false.”
Costner Disputes Stuntwoman’s Claims
Stuntwoman Devyn LaBella, 30, is alleging that she was forced to perform a “violent, unscripted rape scene.” This allegedly happened on the set of Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 2 without her consent. In June, LaBella’s lawyers filed an amended complaint that detailed her “shock, embarrassment and humiliation.” They alleged that she “was never given the opportunity to prepare for or consent to participate” in the unplanned sex scene.
Costner, however, is not having any of it. Indeed, he’s claiming that LaBella’s allegations are a “blatant lie.” Costner said this in a new motion to strike that was filed in California Superior Court.
“Devyn’s claims against me are absolutely false,” wrote Costner, 70. “And it is deeply disappointing to me that a woman who worked on our production would claim that I or any other member of my production team would make one of our own feel uncomfortable, let alone suffer the ‘nightmare’ she has invented.”
“My belief is that Devyn’s claims were designed, through the use of false statements and sensationalistic language, to damage my reputation,” he continued. “These allegations are so patently false I can only assume that the purpose was to use this sensationalistic language to embarrass and damage me and the Horizon movies.”
Costner went on to address the allegations “involving the words ‘rape’ and ‘assault.” He lamented that the claims have “been an absolute nightmare. The truth matters. That’s why, even at the high cost of this lawsuit (financial and personal), I will always speak up to defend myself and my crew against false allegations.”
LaBella’s Behavior On Set
In his motion, Costner included dozens of photos of LaBella from the Horizon set. He explained that the scene in question “was a buildup and foretelling of two violent rape scenes that occur offscreen.” There were also “twelve witnesses” to the scene.
Various actors and crew members have backed up Costner’s claim. One of them is Roger Ivens, the other performer in the scene. He emphatically stated that LaBella offered a “false and sensationalist” description of their scene in her lawsuit.
“It is not what happened,” Ivens stated. “This was not in any way, shape, or form a simulated sex scene.”
Wade Allen, the stunt coordinator who hired and supervised LaBella, was quick to agree. He claimed that the scene involved “no intimacy, no nudity, no sexual conduct or sexual movement of any kind.” Allen also recalled that LaBella gave him a thumbs up before and after the run-through.
“At no point that day did she evidence any distress or discomfort,” Allen stated. He then alleged that LaBella never expressed “any concern about what she had been asked to do.”
According to Costner, LaBella “was laughing and smiling during the blocking of the shot in question.” She then allegedly “had dinner with her stunt coordinator that night, worked additional days on set, and then took her stunt coordinator out to dinner to thank him.” Afterwards, LaBella allegedly wrote text messages in which she described her time on the Horizon set as being “these wonderful weeks!”
LaBella Responds
LaBella has since fired back at Costner’s motion through her attorney James Vagnini. He claimed that her professional demeanor on set does not undermine her allegations.
“This filing is continued evidence that one of Hollywood’s most powerful men is trying to skirt accountability for reckless and harmful behavior,” Vagnini said. “This baseless motion is nothing but a desperate delay tactic from a panicked legal team with no real defense. The only things damaging Kevin Costner’s reputation are his own reckless, harmful behavior and the offensive narrative he’s spreading to cover it up.”
Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 2 does currently does not yet have a release date. The first Horizon movie came out in June of last year to mixed reviews. Despite LaBella’s lawsuit, Costner has insisted that third and fourth installments of his Horizon movie series are still in the works.
Only time will tell if Costner is able to clear his name in this case!