Stunt performer Devyn LaBella is suing Kevin Costner and the production companies behind Horizon 2 for sexual discrimination, harassment, and the creation of a hostile work environment. LaBella further alleges she faced professional retaliation for reporting her concerns over an unscripted rape scene she had to perform without proper notice. Further details are under the cut; please note they may be triggering.
LaBella was the stunt performer for actress Ella Hunt on the film. Hunt’s role did involve another sexual assault scene, with LaBella stepping in for the more physical parts of that scene. Hunt’s contract included a mandatory intimacy coordinator on all nude or intimate scenes, which also applied to LaBella as her stunt double. As Hunt and LaBella are both SAG-AFTRA members, any intimate scenes also needed to meet union regulations of prior notice, consent, and a closed set.
In the lawsuit, LaBella stated filming the first sexual assault scene went by the book. It was rehearsed with the stunt coordinator, an intimacy coordinator was present, the set was closed, and LaBella was able to take breaks between shots.
The next day, however, LaBella arrived on set for what she thought would be a routine day. She was instead instructed to lay down on a wagon and only found out she would be shooting another rape scene when Costner instructed her scene partner, Roger Ivens, to begin simulating nonconsensual sex. According to the lawsuit filings, Ivens pushed up her skirt and pinned her down per Costner’s direction. There had been no notice or rehearsal, the set was not closed, and there was no intimacy coordinator present.
LaBella alleges she later learned that, before she arrived, Hunt had left the set “visibly upset” after Costner informed her that he was adding an impromptu second sexual assault scene. At time of posting, Hunt has not commented and is not involved in the lawsuit.
Costner’s lawyer says that LaBella “gave a thumbs up” to show she was okay to shoot the scene after the initial staging, which they claimed was the rehearsal and not the scene itself. LaBella states that Costner did not give her a chance for a break between the takes. A stand-in performer ended up filming the scene instead.
Finally, LaBella says she was treated differently after filing complaints with stunt coordinators and the film’s intimacy coordinator. Her career came to an “abrupt halt” although she’d worked with Horizon 2‘s stunt coordinator on several other projects. Costner’s lawyers countered this by saying she’d taken the same coordinator to a thank you dinner after filming wrapped.
