by Olivier Acuña Barba •Published: May 28, 2025•15:15•2 minutes read
The stunt actress from the film “Horizon 2” filed a lawsuit against Kevin Costner and the film’s producer in California, claiming she was forced to perform in a “violent” non-script rape scene without consent or other appropriate protocols.
Stuntlady Devin Labella was the lead stunt double for actress Ella Hunt, and played the role of Juliet in the “Horizon” film.
among them Complaint Labella of California, Superior Court, Los Angeles, said Costner, the director of the four-part western anthology that Costner wrote, directed and starred in, improvised the scene where Hunt’s character was raped.
Labella claimed that Hunt refused to film Costner’s improvisational rape scenes, and he was called a substitute without prior warning, preparation or consent, without prior warning, preparation or consent.
According to a complaint from the stunt performer, the male actor was instructed to mount her, secure her, and spit her out vigorously. The set has not been closed, Labella added in her lawsuit.
She also said she was humiliated and hurt by the experience.
“Revealed, unprotected, betrayed.”
“That day, I was exposed, protected and deeply betrayed by a system that promises safety and professionalism,” Lavera said in a statement. “What happened to me has shattered my trust and changed how this industry works forever.”
The complaint alleges that the rape scene violated protocols negotiated by SAG-AFTRA. This includes the requirement for a 48 hour notice and consent for scenes that include nude or simulated gender.
The incident occurred on May 2, 2023 on Set in Utah. Labella also performed in the rape scene written the day before.
She added that during that first rape scene, there was a rehearsal and an intimate coordinator existed. This set was closed according to the protocol.
“This case is a clear example of the production of a male-dominated, sexist Hollywood film,” said Kate McFarlane, one of the plaintiffs’ lawyers. “Our clients were exposed to brutal sexual acts that were not completely protected from obvious harm.”
Kevin Costner denies allegations
According to diversity ReportRT, Costner denied the allegations through his attorney, Marty Singer. In a statement, Singer said that Costner “want to ensure that everyone is working on their film and takes the set very seriously.”
“However, this claim by Devyn Labella has no merit at all, and her own actions and facts are completely inconsistent,” Singer said. “Labella is a serial accuser of people in the entertainment industry and has worked with the same lawyers on past claims. But these shakedown tactics don’t work in this case.”
The singer has created a text message that Labella allegedly sent to the stunt coordinator when she completed the filming.
According to her complaints, Labella has not been rehired for “Horizon 3” and has been working for him regularly in advance, but has not been hired in any of the other projects of the coordinator.
