Kevin Costner demands judge throw out remaining claims in stuntwoman's shock rape scene lawsuit
The actor is seeking to clear his name over the shocking claims relating to the set of 2023 film Horizon
Kevin Costner has tried to have claims of sexual harassment against him thrown out of court after a stuntwoman said she was forced to take part in an unscripted rape scene on the set of 'Horizon'.
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Devyn LaBella, the lead stunt double for Ella Hunt, alleged Costner added a "violent unscripted scene" on May 2 2023 that saw Hunt’s character, Juliette Chesney, raped.
The suit claims Ms Hunt "became visibly upset and walked off the set, refusing to do the scene" that Costner proposed.
Ms Hunt's contract stipulated that producers must provide at least 48 hours of notice before call time to review any nude or intimate scenes.
They must also provide an intimacy coordinator.
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LaBella claims that Costner engaged in inappropriate sexual conduct towards her, making her uncomfortable.
Costner's lawyer Marty Signer is currently seeking dismissal of the eight remaining claims, after two were tossed out of court in August.
Ms LaBella claims she was unaware Ms Hunt refused to do the scene and was given no warning about what the scene entailed.
The suit states that the scene required the male actor to mount her, pin her down, and “violently pull her skirt up”.
Ms LaBella had done a similar shoot the previous day, that was similarly scripted, previously discussed, and rehearsed and choreographed. An intimacy coordinator was present then and the set closed, following SAG-AFTRA rules.
The suit said "she experienced shock, embarrassment and humiliation while attempting to process the situation" after filming ended.
She has also alleged she was not hired back to work on future Horizon films, of which two subsequent films are planned, or for other projects. She claims this is retaliation for reporting the incident on set.