.png)
Devyn LaBella, a stunt actress, has filed a complaint against Kevin Costner, saying that she was compelled to participate in an unscripted assault scene without sufficient notice or safety precautions while filming Horizon 2.
The complaint, filed on Tuesday, says that the scenario was improvised by Costner, who also directed the film.
According to the lawsuit, LaBella served as the principal stunt double for Ella Hunt, who played Juliette.
When Hunt declined to participate in the scene, LaBella was brought in abruptly and without her permission. According to the complaint, a male actor pinned LaBella down, mounted her, and forcibly pulled up her skirt when there was no intimacy coordinator present and the set was still accessible to the crew.
"On that day, I was left exposed, unprotected, and deeply betrayed by a system that promised safety and professionalism," LaBella told reporters. "What happened to me shattered my trust and forever changed how I move through this industry."
LaBella alleges the encounter broke SAG-AFTRA guidelines, which demand 48 hours' notice and approval for any nudity or simulated intimate situations.
She appeared in a written sequence the day before, which the complaint claims was handled professionally, with rehearsals and all necessary safety precautions in place.
LaBella's attorney, Kate McFarlane, stated, "This case is a clear example of male-dominated, sexist Hollywood movie production." Our client was exposed to harsh sexual behavior, with no protection from the apparent injuries."
Costner, via his attorney Marty Singer, disputed the charges, calling them "baseless."
"However, this claim by Devyn LaBella has absolutely no merit, and it is completely contradicted by her own actions - and the facts," Singer told reporters.
"Ms. LaBella is a serial accuser of persons in the entertainment business who has previously used the same lawyer. However, same shakedown techniques will not be effective in this situation.
According to Singer, the sequence was outlined in advance, and following a practice, LaBella gave a "thumbs up" to her stunt coordinator, indicating her agreement to film the scene "if needed (which she was not)." He also reported that LaBella subsequently ate dinner with the stunt team, looked to be in "good spirits," and had no concerns.
However, LaBella's complaint opposes that version.
According to the complaint, when she later expressed her concerns, she was reprimanded for not speaking out at the time.
"Upon expressing her outrage and concern, the male attendees blamed her for not speaking up," according to the lawsuit. "She now felt completely alone and disappointed, but, as production was not yet wrapped, Ms. LaBella had to continue working and keep up a professional attitude."
Singer also shared a text message that LaBella reportedly sent to the stunt coordinator after filming was completed: "Thank you for these beautiful weeks! I really appreciate you! I learnt so lot, and I want to thank you again. I'm really glad it turned out the way it did. Have a fantastic rest of the shoot and we'll chat soon!"
According to the lawsuit, LaBella was not requested to return for Horizon 3 and has not been employed again by the stunt coordinator, despite previously working with him on a regular basis.
