Kevin Costner's Legal Showdown: 'Groundless and Ridiculous' Claims

Kevin Costner's Wild West Sequel Saga: Actor Sued for Alleged Unscripted Rape Scene on Set

The drama continues to unfold surrounding Kevin Costner's long-delayed western epic, Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 2. The two-time Oscar winner is being sued by Devyn LaBella, a stuntwoman who claims she was subjected to an unscripted rape scene on set, which has left the actor and his team scrambling to defend themselves.

According to court documents obtained by TMZ, LaBella alleges that during filming, co-star Roger Ivens put his hand "on or near her breast and vaginal areas" while she was pinned by his large, muscular body. The stuntwoman claims that she felt "trapped" and "humiliated" as a result of the incident, which allegedly took place in the tight confines of a covered wagon.

LaBella's lawsuit also reveals that she had been menstruating on set at the time of the alleged incident, and her underwear was exposed when Ivens' character ripped her pantaloons from the waist down to the crotch. The stuntwoman claims that no intimacy coordinator was present during the unscripted scene, which is a stark contrast to the scripted rape scene she had filmed with an intimacy coordinator just the day before.

LaBella's allegations have been met with fierce denials by Kevin Costner and his team. In a statement released to TheScholarlyNote.com on Monday, Marty Singer, Costner's attorney, called LaBella's claims "groundless" and "ridiculous." Singer claimed that there are 12 independent witnesses who confirm that LaBella's allegations are fabricated.

However, LaBella's team is standing firm in their assertion that the stuntwoman was indeed subjected to a traumatic experience on set. In June, LaBella shared screengrabs of her text conversation with intimacy coordinator Celeste Chaney, where she described the unscripted scene as an "abomination" and listed off her grievances with the shoot.

But Costner's team is not backing down without a fight. On August 19, the actor provided TheScholarlyNote.com with on-set snaps of LaBella smiling on set with him, as well as shots of her and Roger filming the scene in question. In an attempt to discredit LaBella's allegations, Costner also produced a text written by LaBella to stunt coordinator/2nd unit director Wade Allen on May 11, 2023, where she thanked him for "these wonderful weeks" and gushed about how happy she was with the way the scene had turned out.

However, LaBella's team points out that this text was sent several days after the alleged incident took place, and may have been an attempt to cover up what really happened. Furthermore, the stuntwoman has also produced a declaration from a friend who witnessed her in distress on set, claiming that she was "visibly shaken" and "traumatized" by what had transpired.

The drama surrounding Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 2 is just one of many controversies surrounding Costner's western epic. The film premiered at the Venice Film Festival last year to dismal reviews, and has yet to receive a release date. To make matters worse, the production was plagued by delays and cost overruns, with Costner allegedly having to mortgage his beachfront property in Santa Barbara to help fund the project.

Costner's financial woes are well-documented, as he reportedly had to use $38M of his own fortune to help fund the first two parts of his franchise. The actor has vowed to continue making the western epic, despite its dwindling box office prospects. "I have to hurry and not let the rock fall back downhill," Costner told reporters last year. "I've gotta go put my hands on it again and start to push it up. It's a rope that I cannot let go of."

As the drama surrounding Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 2 continues to unfold, one thing is clear: Kevin Costner's reputation as a producer, director, and star is hanging precariously in the balance.

The cast of Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 2 includes Sienna Miller, Sam Worthington, Giovanni Ribisi, Jena Malone, Michael Rooker, Danny Huston, Luke Wilson, Thomas Haden Church, and Jamie Campbell Bower. The film's poor box office performance has left many wondering if the franchise will ever see a successful conclusion.

Stay tuned for further updates on this developing story as it continues to unfold in the coming weeks and months.