Hollywood legend Kevin Costner is facing serious allegations after a stuntwoman involved in his Western film series Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 2 filed a lawsuit claiming she was subjected to a violent, unscripted scene without proper consent or safeguards.

The lawsuit, filed in the Superior Court of California for Los Angeles County by stunt performer Devyn LaBella, accuses Costner, 70, and his production companies of sexual harassment, discrimination, retaliation, and creating a hostile work environment.

According to LaBella’s complaint, she was forced “to perform an unscripted rape scene without proper notice, consent or the mandatory presence of an intimacy coordinator.”

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LaBella, who served as the stunt double for actress Ella Hunt, is seeking unspecified compensatory and punitive damages and has requested a jury trial. The claims stem from her time on set in Utah during the spring of 2023.

Disturbing Allegations from the Set

According to LaBella, she had been working on Horizon 2 for several weeks without incident when she was informed that she would be performing a “scripted, aggressive and intimate rape scene” involving Hunt’s character Juliette and actor Douglas Smith’s character Sig.

That scene was filmed on May 1, 2023, and reportedly proceeded without issues.

However, the following day, LaBella claims she was on set for a “non-intimate scene” when the situation suddenly changed.

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The lawsuit alleges that Kevin Costner directed a new scene involving another actor, Roger Ivens, which required him to “climb on top of Ms. Hunt, violently raking up her skirt.” Hunt allegedly refused to film the scene, walking off the set in visible distress.

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LaBella says she was unaware of Hunt’s refusal and was then asked by Costner to stand in, without proper notice, consent, or the presence of an intimacy coordinator.

The lawsuit further alleges that the set was not closed and the scene was broadcast over monitors, unlike the controlled environment of the previous day’s shoot.

“Due to the ad hoc and violent nature of the sudden script change request… Ms. Hunt became visibly upset and walked off the set, refusing to do the scene,” the complaint stated.

LaBella claimed she experienced emotional trauma and confusion during the shoot.

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“Further increasing confusion and stress for Ms. LaBella, the scene on May 2nd had no clear direction of when the scene began or ended,” the documents stated.

“Defendant Costner failed to announce or to consistently announce ‘action’ at the beginning or ‘cut’ at the end of a shoot.”

Fallout and Emotional Impact

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Following the incident, LaBella said she was left feeling “shock, embarrassment and humiliation” and experienced “sudden bouts of crying on and off set.”

According to the lawsuit, she broke down in the hair trailer and was subsequently isolated from the rest of the production, told to stay in her trailer and not appear on set—even when in full costume.

“Multiple people apologized to her over the course of days and made excuses for Director Costner, all of which made her feel even more uncomfortable,” the complaint added.

LaBella has since begun therapy to cope with the trauma. “On that day, I was left exposed, unprotected, and deeply betrayed by a system that promised safety and professionalism,” she told People Magazine.

“What happened to me shattered my trust and forever changed how I move through this industry.”

She added, “This experience has ignited in me a lifelong mission to be the advocate I once needed, ensuring no one else is ever left as vulnerable as I was.”

Costner Denies Allegations

Kevin Costner, through his attorney Marty Singer, has adamantly denied the allegations.

“Our client, Kevin Costner, always wants to make sure that everyone is comfortable working on his films and takes safety on set very seriously,” Singer stated.

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“However, this claim by Devyn LaBella has absolutely no merit. It is completely contradicted by her own actions – and the facts.”

Singer claimed that LaBella had previously performed a rehearsal of the scene, gave her stunt coordinator a “thumbs up,” and later dined with production crew members in good spirits, raising no concerns.

“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,” Singer added.

He also cited a text message allegedly sent by LaBella, which read: “Thank you for these wonderful weeks! I so appreciate you! I learned so much and thank you again. I’m really happy it worked out the way it did to. Have a great rest of the shoot and yes talk soon!”

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The message included heart emojis, according to Singer.

“She is a serial accuser of people in the entertainment industry. But those shakedown tactics won’t work in this case,” he added confidently.

The Future of Horizon

Costner’s Horizon project is an ambitious four-part Western epic. The first film was released in June 2024, and Horizon 2 premiered at the Venice Film Festival later that year.

The third installment is currently in production. It remains unclear whether LaBella’s lawsuit will affect the remaining films’ production or release schedule.

As the legal process unfolds, the entertainment industry is once again forced to confront serious questions about safety, consent, and oversight on film sets.

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