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A stunt performer who worked on Horizon: An American Saga — Chapter 2 is suing the film’s director and star Kevin Costner.
In legal documents first reported on by The Hollywood Reporter on Tuesday, May 27, and later obtained by Us Weekly, Devyn LaBella filed a complaint that day against Costner, 70, and the 2024 film’s production companies on grounds of alleged sexual discrimination, harassment and “the creation of a hostile work environment.”
The 34-year-old’s filing alleged that she was “the victim of a violent unscripted, unshceduled rape scene directed by Kevin Costner” on May 2, 2023.
In a statement provided to Us by Costner’s attorney Marty Singer in the late hours of Tuesday, LaBella’s claims were described as bearing “absolutely no merit.”
Singer told Us on behalf of his client, “Kevin Costner always wants to make sure that everyone is comfortable working on his films and takes safety on set very seriously. However, this claim by Devyn LaBella has absolutely no merit, and it is completely contradicted by her own actions – and the facts.”
Singer also provided screenshots of texts allegedly sent by LaBella after a dinner described to have been attended by “LaBella … her supervisor, the stunt coordinator, and with the assistant stunt coordinator,” following a set rehearsal of the scene that took place on the Utah set in May 2023.
Singer wrote to Us, “She [LaBella] was in good spirits and made no complaints to them. She continued to work on the movie for a few more weeks until her wrap date, and she took the stunt coordinator to a thank-you dinner. She also sent him a cordial thank you text illustrated with happy heart emojis (copy attached).”
LaBella’s filing detailed the alleged aftermath of the day’s scene, claiming that “she experienced shock, embarrassment and humiliation while attempting to process the situation.” The filing alleged that LaBella “was not hired back to continue her role or at all as a stunt double for Horizon 3, which began filming in early 2024.”
LaBella also offered a personal account of her alleged experience to The Hollywood Reporter. “On that day, I was left exposed, unprotected, and deeply betrayed by a system that promised safety and professionalism,” LaBella was quoted. “What happened to me shattered my trust and forever changed how I move through this industry.”
Per LaBella’s legal filing, she had previously worked on Barbie, American Horror Stories, CSI: Vegas, Yellowjackets, The Rookie and more than 80 other film and television projects.
This is not the first time Costner’s Horizon saga has attracted controversy. Earlier this month, the outlet reported that New Line Cinema filed “an arbitration claim against Kevin Costner’s company under which Horizon was produced over alleged breaches to a deal.” The outlet stated that the alleged breaching was in relation to a “co-financing agreement” with New Line Cinema.
The outlet added that LaBella’s filing came after “settlement discussions with Costner and production company representatives broke down.”
Source Usmagazine.com
