Kevin Costnerhas previously spoken out regarding the sexual harassment lawsuit filed against him byHorizon IIstunt performerDevyn LaBellathrough his lawyer, but now the actor and director is getting more pointed in a declaration filed through the L.A. Superior Court that declares her claims to be a “bold-faced lie.”
PerDeadline, Costner filed a declaration on Monday in which he explicitly asserts that LaBella’s claims, which involve herhaving to endure a rape scenethat was unscheduled, unrehearsed, unscripted and extremely violent in the Western sequel, are completely unfounded and a direct attack on him personally. Costner is now moving forward with having a hearing scheduled for Sept. 18 in Downtown Los Angeles that will either have the case dropped or have some of it hampered due to the anti-SLAPP statute, which allows a defendant to file a motion to strike a complaint that they deem meritless during the early process of litigation.
The declaration, in part, states, “My belief is that Devyn’s claims were designed, through the use of false statements and sensationalistic language, to damage my reputation.” It then goes on to include a text from LaBella to “her supervisor”, a week after the alleged 2023 rape scene was shot, which expressed gratitude about her experience.
“The reality, as supported by the sworn testimony of a dozen respected, veteran film crew members with personal knowledge of the facts at issue is this dispute, real-time photographs of the shot in question, and LaBella’s own words at the time, is that LaBelle’s opportunistic and salacious lawsuit is just as fictional as the motion picture at the center of this dispute.”
What Are Devyn LaBella’s Claims Against Kevin Costner?
According to LaBella’s initial claim, the veteran stunt performer was subjected to engaging in an unscheduled rape scene that was directed by Costner. LaBella’s filing goes on to state, “The impact of this impromptu work demand on Ms. LaBella has been profound, not only upending a career Ms. LaBella spent years building but leaving her with permanent trauma that she will be required to address for years to come.” LaBella also alleges that she hasn’t been able to secure a job since the incident occurred, something she believes has a lot to do with her speaking up against Costner and the Horizon production.
In defence of LaBella, Celeste Chaney, an intimacy coordinator on the project,backed up her claimsand called the matter something that “was unexpectedly sprung on the actors and the stunt professionals.” In LaBella’s amended complaint, Chaney states that there was no intimacy coordinator present for the scene, which gives some credence to it being unplanned, and that the fact that Hunt, the actress in question, didn’t want to participate in the scene. As Chaney states, LaBella “is a stunt professional, not a body double.”
Costner poured a lot intoHorizon, including much of his fortune, to get it off the ground.Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 1premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in 2024 but once it opened to the masses, it failed to register with audiences, grossing a mere $38.7 million globally. WhileHorizon IIpremiered at the Venice Film Festival last year, its planned August 2024 release was pulled from the schedule indefinitely. The project was meant to be a planned trilogy butfilming onHorizon IIIhas yet to take place.
