Kevin Costner Sued by Stunt Performer Over Unscripted ‘Horizon 2’ Rape Scene
A stunt performer on “Horizon 2” sued Kevin Costner on Tuesday, alleging that she was forced to perform an unscripted rape scene without proper protocols.
Devyn LaBella was the lead stunt double for Ella Hunt, who played the role of Juliette in the “Horizon” films. According to LaBella’s lawsuit, Costner, the director, improvised a scene in which Hunt’s character would be raped.
Hunt refused to perform the scene, the lawsuit states. LaBella was brought in as a stand-in, without advance warning, preparation or consent, and without an intimacy coordinator present, the suit alleges. According to the complaint, the male actor was directed to mount her, pin her down, and violently rake up her skirt. The set was not closed, the suit states.
On that day, I was left exposed, unprotected, and deeply betrayed by a system that promised safety and professionalism,” LaBella said in a statement. “What happened to me shattered my trust and forever changed how I move through this industry.”
The suit alleges that the scene violated protocols negotiated by SAG-AFTRA, including a requirement for 48 hours’ notice and consent for any scenes involving nudity or simulated sex.
The incident took place on May 2, 2023, on set in Utah. LaBella also performed in a scripted rape scene the previous day, which was handled professionally, the suit alleges. In that scene, there were rehearsals, an intimacy coordinator was present, and the set was closed.
