Headshot of Kevin Costner.
Share this @internewscast.com

A stuntwoman has amended her lawsuit against Kevin Costner, originally accusing him of orchestrating a “violent” unscripted rape scene, to now include unsettling alleged text messages.

Devyn LaBella, 34, alleged in one message there had been an “abuse of power.”

Headshot of Kevin Costner.
Kevin Costner the director, star and cowriter of the Horizon series of Westerns, has denied the allegationsCredit: Getty
Kevin Costner on horseback leading a pack train across a mountain landscape.
Kevin Costner’s attorney has rejected the lawsuit, and claimed it has no meritCredit: Alamy
Devyn LaBella at A Cause For Entertainment's 10th anniversary.
Hollywood stuntwoman Devyn LaBella, 34, is suing star and director Kevin CostnerCredit: Getty

The plaintiff, a former gymnast and Hollywood stunt performer since 2020 with credits in films like Barbie and Yellowjackets, first filed her lawsuit on May 27 in Los Angeles Superior Court.

She claims she experienced an unscripted rape scene during the filming of Horizon: An American Saga: Chapter 2, purportedly without adequate warning, consent, or adherence to protocols.

Costner, 70, who was acting as well as directing on set for the movie, has denied all the allegations. His lawyer has denied there was “anything sexual in the shot.”

LaBella amended her lawsuit on June 18 to include alleged text messages, reported the US Weekly.

The publication claimed that it had seen new evidence submitted against Costner and his production firm Territory Pictures.

The shoot included a planned sexual assault scene, shot in May of 2023, that LaBella performed much of because of its violent and physical nature, the initial lawsuit said.

LaBella’s lawsuit said she was the stunt double for one of the Horizon leads, Ella Hunt, 27, throughout the Western.

For the initial scene, protocols were followed, including meetings, rehearsals, the presence of an intimacy coordinator and minimal crew, the lawsuit stated.

But it alleged that the following day, in an unscripted scene with no warning, rehearsal or choreography, Costner directed an actor to pin LaBella down on a wagon and simulate rape.

The lawsuit claimed that Costner asked for many takes as he experimented with the violent action and did not make it clear when a shot was beginning or ending.

Hollywood Earnings Showdown: The Rock Tops 2024

The amended lawsuit includes alleged text messages LaBella claimed to have exchanged with the film’s intimacy coordinator, Celeste Cheney, the day after the alleged scene was shot.

LaBella wrote in the alleged text, dated May 3, “Hi Celeste… I wanted to discuss yesterdays abomination when we both have a chance.

“Are you around today? I was put in a really wrong position and it’s really affected me.”

INTIMACY

According to the Weekly, Cheney replied, “Oh no, I’m so sorry to hear this, Devyn. Yes, of course, let’s talk it through.”

In a further alleged message, LaBella reportedly asked the coordinator, “Why was there no intimacy coordinator?”

The Weekly claimed that she also allegedly texted, “Why was a stunt double doing this non stunt work — especially given the sensitivity of it?

“Who is gonna take responsibility for the abuse of power …”

EXPLICIT ACTION

These questions were among more than a dozen that LaBella allegedly asked Cheney in relation to the scene.

For example, the amended lawsuit said she also allegedly asked, “how did lining up a shot turn into a rape sequence?” and “why was sensitive and explicit action commanded when it wasn’t in the script?”

The Weekly claimed that Cheney later wrote an incident report in which she allegedly noted that “apologies were made to Ella [Hunt] and Devyn by various parties involved.”

COSTNER’S ATTORNEY RESPONDS

Costner’s attorney, Martin Singer, has rejected LaBella’s claims.

He said in a statement, “Ms. LaBella was doing a rehearsal on an insert shot for a scripted scene.”

Any shot whose only objective is to draw the viewer’s attention to a single aspect inside a scene is referred to as an insert shot, according to the Nashville Film Institute.

Singer told The U.S. Sun, “There was no intimacy or anything sexual in the shot.

“There was tugging on a dress while she was fully clothed in a dress with long bloomers lying down next to a male actor.

“Numerous witnesses have contradicted Ms. LaBella’s meritless claims.

“She herself texted her supervisor after she wrapped stating, ‘Thank you for these wonderful weeks.’

“We look forward to the swift end of this specious lawsuit.”

REHEARSED

It followed his previous statement on the lawsuit when it was lodged.

He said last month, “The scene in question was explained to Ms. LaBella.

“After she performed the rehearsal in character with another actor, she gave her stunt coordinator supervisor a thumbs up and indicated her willingness to then shoot the scene, if needed (which she was not).”

He added, “That night, Ms. LaBella had dinner with her supervisor, the stunt coordinator, and with the assistant stunt coordinator, and she 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.”

DAMAGES

The lawsuit seeks damages in an amount to be determined at trial.

It also seeks a judge’s order for the defendants to undergo sexual harassment training, to be required to use an intimacy coordinator on future productions and to issue LaBella a public apology.

Costner has spent 30 years trying to make the ambitious, four-part Western epic Horizon: An American Saga.

The first part was released in June 2024.

But plans to release the second immediately afterwards were put on hold after the poor box office performance of part one.

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like
Missouri factory worker found dead inside industrial oven, police say

Police Report Missouri Factory Employee’s Death Inside Industrial Oven

A Guatemalan national working under an alias was found dead inside an…
Family rescues diamondback terrapins from storm drains

Family Saves Diamondback Terrapins Trapped in Storm Drains

VENTNOR, New Jersey — Since childhood, Evelyn Kidd has been using a…
North Korean IT workers infiltrated Fortune 500 companies in massive fraud scheme

North Korean IT Workers Deceive Fortune 500 Companies in Major Fraud Operation

Federal authorities have discovered numerous plans by North Korea to finance its…
Defund movement faces 'absolute rejection' as murders drop and police budgets climb: law enforcement group

“Defund Movement Faces Backlash as Crime Rates Decrease and Police Budgets Increase, Says Law Enforcement Group”

Over recent years, several major cities have bolstered their police support and…
Wildfire raging through trees, with people silhouetted in the foreground.

Devastating Fires in Turkey Disrupt Travel at Tourist Airports as ‘Arsonist with Petrol’ Arrested; 1,000 Battle the Flames

THE brutal Turkey fires have continued to spread across holiday hotspots for…
Firefighters ambushed in Coeur d'Alene shooting

Coeur d’Alene Shooting Targets Firefighters in Ambush

A shelter-in-place directive was removed after the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office reported…
A 19-year-old in a neck brace holds a lobster roll.

19-Year-Old Suffers Broken Neck in Unusual Beach Accident While Trying to Cool Off

A TEENAGER has been left with a broken neck following a freak…
Photo of Aurora Maniscalco, a 24-year-old flight attendant.

24-Year-Old Flight Attendant Dies After 33-Foot Fall from Balcony in Popular Holiday Destination; Investigation Underway

A FLIGHT attendant has died after falling from her third-floor balcony in…
Boston radio hosts rail against Aaron Rodgers' final season comments: 'Douche move’

Boston Radio Hosts Criticize Aaron Rodgers’ Comments on His Last Season: ‘Insensitive Move’

Courtney Cox of WEEI’s Greg Hill Show didn’t hold back in response…
Bryan Kohberger at a court hearing.

Bryan Kohberger to Plead Guilty to Killing 4 Idaho Students in Landmark Plea Deal to Avoid Death Penalty

Bryan Kohberger, the suspect in the Idaho student murders, has allegedly agreed…

Royal Passes Away at 63 Just Days Before Birth of First Child: Wife Shares Heartfelt Tribute

A PRINCE has tragically died just days before the birth of his…
Surprise witness in Idaho student murders says she 'saw Bryan there' on deadly night

Boxing Coach Reveals Kohberger’s Claims of Competition Were Exaggerated

Numerous defense witnesses for Bryan Kohberger are hesitant to travel to Idaho…