Kevin Costner’s lawyer came out swinging after female stunt performer Devyn LaBella, who is suing the actor over an alleged unscripted rape scene in his recent movie, submitted new evidence in court, Us Weekly has learned.
On Tuesday, June 24, Costner’s powerhouse attorney, Marty Singer, told TMZ that, “[LaBella was doing a rehearsal on an Insert Shot for a scripted scene. 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.”
Singer added, “Numerous witnesses have contradicted [LaBella’s] meritless claims. She herself texted her supervisor after she wrapped, stating, ‘Thank you for these wonderful weeks.’”
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As Us previously reported, LaBella filed her lawsuit in May against Costner, 70, and Territory Pictures over her experience on the set of the big-budget western Horizon, which Costner also directed.
LaBella claimed she was hired to work on Horizon, which was filmed in Utah. She said she had no issues during the first several weeks of filming until the allegedly “violent, unscripted, unscheduled rape scene” took place on May 2, 2023.
The stuntwoman claimed that the scene was to feature actress Ella Hunt and actor Roger Ivens. LaBella claimed Hunter refused to shoot the scene after learning that it would involve her skirt being “violently” raked up by Ivens.
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“Costner, who was present on the set, specifically added this scene, which varied from the scene filmed the day before, which had not involved pulling up the actor’s skirt,” LaBella’s suit read.
Hunt allegedly walked off set and LaBella was asked to set in for her, according to the suit. LaBella claimed she was unaware of Hunt’s exit until later.
LaBella’s lawyer alleged, “[LaBella] was not a stand-in performer, and what [Costner] requested of her was not within the scope of her role as a stunt double. Nevertheless, and in complete ignorance of the nature of the actual ‘shot’ [Costner] had planned for her, [LaBella] agreed to help out with what she thought would be a quick stand-in shot.”
The stuntwoman, who claimed the film’s intimacy coordinator was not present while filming the alleged scene, said she was shocked that the scene involved Ivens, 44, mounting her “and violently [pulling] her skirt up when he was already on top of her doing so.”
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“As directed by Costner, this unscripted, unrehearsed scene consisted of [Ivens] mounting [LaBella] while miming the unbuttoning of his pants, and using his body and arms to forcibly pin down [ LaBella], who was on her back underneath him. [Ivens] violently rustled [LaBella’s] skirt up as if trying to penetrate her against her will and he was directed to pin her legs open with his knee,” the suit reads.
LaBella claimed she complained to the intimacy coordinator following the scene. She believes her complaints caused her to not be asked to shoot for Horizon 3.
Earlier this month, LaBella amended her lawsuit to include alleged texts she sent the coordinator regarding her claims. One message read, “Why was a stunt double doing this non stunt work — especially given the sensitivity of it?”
LaBella added, “Who is gonna take responsibility for the abuse of power …”
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The coordinator wrote up a report, which was included in the suit, that read, “This was not a formal or uniform process. Ideally, apologies would be issued by [Costner], the 1st AD, and others involved to both Ella and Devyn. Ella [Hunt] requested that the intimacy coordinator be brought back to provide support the following week. Production obliged. Devyn requested that production pay for her flight home that weekend so she could receive support from family and friends. Production obliged.”
Costner’s attorney previously slammed the claims, arguing the case had “no merit.” He said that Costner always “wants to make sure that everyone is comfortable” on his film sets. He claimed LaBella’s claims were “completely contradicted by her own actions.”
The case is ongoing.
Us Weekly
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