Editor’s Note: This story contains discussions of rape or sexual assault that may be disturbing. Reader discretion is advised. If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, you can find help and discreet resources on the National Sexual Assault Hotline website or by calling 1-800-656-4673.
(NewsNation) — Kevin Costner is firing back against a sexual harassment lawsuit by a stuntwoman on “Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 2” who alleged she was forced to perform an unscripted rape scene in the film.
Costner, 70, called Devyn LaBella’s accusations “patently false” and “deeply disappointing” in a motion to throw out her lawsuit, Variety reports.
“I can only assume that purpose was to use this sensationalistic language to embarrass and damage me and the ‘Horizon’ movies on an ongoing basis in order to gain a massive and unjustified payday,” Costner said in his motion. “Equally as bad, having to read about and address allegations I know to be false involving the words ‘rape’ and ‘assault’ has been an absolute nightmare.”
Kevin Costner sued for ‘hostile work environment’
LaBella sued Costner and the film’s production companies for sexual harassment and for creating a hostile work environment in May.
She alleges that the scene happened without proper warning or protocols dictated by her union, according to The Associated Press.
“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,” according to her lawsuit.
According to Variety, LaBella says that Costner, who directed and starred in the film, improvised a scene where he straddled her and raked up her skirt aggressively.
The “Yellowstone” star said that it wasn’t a “rape scene,” and even though it was implied, there wasn’t any nudity or simulated sex involved.
“This was one artistic shot designed to imply what was going to happen off-screen and purposely was not a ‘simulated rape’ as Devyn now falsely describes it,” he stated in his filing, Variety reports.
In his filing for dismissal, Costner included dozens of pictures of LeBella on the set of the movie, adding that the scene was “was a buildup and foretelling of two violent rape scenes that occur offscreen” and included “twelve witnesses,” according to People.
“Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 2” was scheduled for release on August 16, 2024, but was indefinitely delayed following the poor box office of “Chapter 1” earlier that year, according to IMDB.