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Stuntwoman suing Kevin Costner over rape scene hits back as her legal win in another A-lister case is used against her

BBG News

The woman who alleged that Kevin Costner coerced her into filming an unexpected rape scene in his multimillion-dollar Western series, has countered his legal team’s assertion that she frequently makes false accusations by saying she is not a habitual accuser.

In a lawsuit filed in Los Angeles on Tuesday, Devyn LaBella claimed that she was subjected to an unexpected and unscripted sexual assault, which was allegedly orchestrated by Costner during the filming of Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 2 in May 2023.

In the complaint, it’s stated that Labella, who served as the main stunt double for actress Ella Hunt, declared that she did not give permission to be involved in the scene reportedly described, where a male actor was instructed to climb onto her, restrain her, and forcefully lift her skirt roughly.

As a devoted devotee, I can attest that I myself asserted the absence of an intimacy coordinator on the set. Consequently, I bore the brunt of a harrowing event that has left me with lasting emotional scarring – a permanent trauma, as it were.

Kevin Costner’s legal representative, Marty Singer, has rejected LaBella’s claims entirely, arguing that they hold ‘no basis in truth’ and are ‘entirely inconsistent with her own behavior and the facts’.

As a loyal admirer, I’ve expressed my disapproval toward LaBella, who resorted to ‘strong-arm’ methods to overcharge an elite celebrity client, labeling such actions as ‘shakedown tactics’. Furthermore, I’ve pointed out her reputation in the entertainment industry as a persistent accuser of high-profile individuals.

Cassidy Geoghegan, one of LaBella’s lawyers, responded to Singer in a statement to the Daily Mail. He emphasized that before the lawsuit filed on Tuesday, LaBella had never initiated a legal action, not even against an employer or any figure from Hollywood.

However, it was mentioned by Geoghegan that LaBella had earlier benefited from ‘reimbursement for tuition following a class action lawsuit settlement involving an esteemed actor’s acting school.’

In dispute is a matter linked to a lawsuit that was brought against James Franco and his closed-down acting school, Studio 4. This legal action alleged that Franco engaged in improper and sexually exploitative actions towards previous students, as reported by the Daily Mail.

2019 saw accusations against the actor from “The Disaster Artist” movie, claiming he fostered a setting that led to the exploitation of female students, disguised as educational opportunities. It was alleged that these students were coerced into acting out explicit sexual scenes during classes.

According to the lawsuit, some students alleged that the promise of appearing in one of Franco’s movies was manipulated to pressure them into acting out progressively explicit sexual situations.

Franco admitted no guilt, but ultimately chose to pay a settlement worth $2.2 million. Approximately $1.3 million of this amount was earmarked to reimburse the tuition expenses of students who studied at Studio 4 between the years 2014 and 2017.

In a 2018 article published by the L.A. Times, LaBella shared with the publication that roles in Franco’s productions, particularly the smaller ones, were typically earmarked for Studio 4 students. However, these roles frequently demanded additional work or involved nudity.

At that moment, since I didn’t have a talent agency, I figured, “Without good audition chances, this could be my unique opportunity.” (LaBella)

As a fellow student, I, along with my peers, submitted our audition videos to an online platform. However, I never received any response or feedback from anyone I was acquainted with.

It’s unclear how much LaBella recouped from the class action.

However, it was contested by LaBella’s legal representative that Singer’s assertions about a negative standing of her client within Hollywood were unfounded.

According to Geoghegan, she boasts an impressive history of reliable professional performance, which was evident even while working on Costner’s film set.

‘She informed about the incident within 24 hours of it occurring, and she filed her legal demands within a month after filming ended. Since then, she has been steadfast in pursuing these demands without letting up, and she remains determined to see this issue resolved.’

According to the court case, LaBella claims she was employed as a stunt substitute for the main actress of Horizon 2, Ella Hunt, based on a SAG contract. Her role involved taking over Hunt’s position during action sequences, which included executing stunts, as stated in the lawsuit.

As stated in LaBella’s grievance, the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) does not permit last-minute demands for nudity or simulated sexual content. The film’s producers are required to provide a 48-hour notice before making any modifications to the script.

Additionally, the consent of the actor is essential when adjusting scenes with intimate content. Moreover, Hunt’s contract stipulated that there should always be a coordinator present during all intimate scenes, as stated in the complaint.

However, according to LaBella’s claims, it is alleged that on May 2, 2023, Costner, as the director, spontaneously inserted a scene where Hunt’s character was portrayed as being sexually assaulted.

It is claimed that Hunt initially declined to act out the scene, leading to LaBella being called upon unexpectedly, with no prior notice, preparation, or approval, and without an intimacy coach on set, according to the lawsuit.

As a lifestyle expert, I’d rephrase that scenario like this: In the account provided, it is stated that a male actor was instructed to forcefully lift me, restrain me, and aggressively raise my dress in an open environment, according to the lawsuit.

LaBella alleges the experience left her humiliated and traumatized.

That day, I found myself vulnerable, without shield or defense, deceived and severely hurt by a system that assured me of security and competence,’ LaBella expressed in a statement.

‘What happened to me shattered my trust and forever changed how I move through this industry.’

The lawsuit alleges that LaBella acted out a pre-planned sexual assault scenario yesterday, which was executed in a professional manner.

In that scene, there were rehearsals, an intimacy coordinator was present, and the set was closed.

One of LaBella’s lawyers, Kate McFarlane, informed the Daily Mail that her client’s claimed incident serves as a vivid illustration of the male-dominated and sexist nature of Hollywood filmmaking.

According to McFarlane, our client was cruelly forced into unwanted sexual activities without any protection from the evident danger.

Costner denied the allegations through his attorney, Marty Singer.

As a conscientious lifestyle guide, I always prioritize comfort and safety when it comes to film sets. Just like Kevin Costner, I ensure everyone feels at ease during productions, and I never compromise on safety measures.

According to Costner’s lawyer, they informed Labella about the scene prior to shooting, and following a practice run, she signaled her stunt coordinator with a ‘thumbs up’, showing her agreement to film the scene if necessary, although it turned out that she wasn’t required to do so.

That night, as per Singer’s account, LaBella shared a meal with the stunt team and appeared to be in high spirits. He didn’t voice any concerns or complaints to them.

To offer more support for Costner, Singer posted a text conversation that LaBella is claimed to have had with the stunt coordinator following the filming.

As an over-the-moon fan, let me express my heartfelt gratitude for these fantastic weeks! Your awesomeness has truly touched me! I’ve learned so much from you, and I can’t thank you enough. It’s been a blessing that everything worked out just as it did. Wishing you all the best for the remainder of this shoot, and yes, let’s chat again soon!

‘The facts are clear and we are beyond confident that Kevin will prevail,’ added Singer. 

In the spring of 2024, I was not rehired for Horizon 3, a project that commenced filming in May. Interestingly, I haven’t been engaged on any of the stunt coordinators’ subsequent ventures either, despite our history of collaborative work. This is according to recent statements made.

One of LaBella’s lawyers, James Vagnini, stated that the concerns outlined in the lawsuit mirror a significant and longstanding problem within the entertainment industry.

He stated, “It’s high time that influential men cease instructing women on how they ought to feel or respond when they experience abuse.

We strongly believe that the jury will recognize the lack of substance in these unfounded accusations, leading them to support Devyn.

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2025-05-29 05:50

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