Kevin Costner Seeks Dismissal of Sexual Harassment Lawsuit

Kevin Costner has requested a judge to dismiss a sexual harassment lawsuit from a stunt performer who accused him of coercing her into a non-consensual rape scene, according to a report from TMZ.

Devin Labella, the actress and stunt performer, alleged that while on the set of Costner’s western series “Horizon,” she felt pressured during the scene. However, Costner refuted her claims, labeling them as “absolutely false.” He pointed to a text message Labella reportedly sent to a supervisor post-filming, where she expressed having “a great time.” Costner described the situation as “very disappointing,” as mentioned by TMZ.

Labella, who served as a stunt double for actress Ella Hunt, filed her complaint on May 2, 2023. She alleged that she was thrust into a “violent” non-scripted rape scene without her consent or proper guidance from an intimacy coordinator. It was reported that after Hunt declined to perform the scene, she was sent off the set. Labella contended that she wasn’t informed the male actor would be instructed to restrain her and lift her skirt. She expressed that Costner had told her to “lie down” in the wagon before repeatedly instructing the actor to simulate the rape.

In his statement, Costner identified the male actor involved, Roger Ivens, and indicated that both were fully clothed during the filming. According to him, Labella wore an ankle-length dress over bike shorts, and Ivens merely lifted her dress’s hem while positioned above her.

Costner’s submission stated that there was no nudity, rape, or any physical contact between Labella and Ivens. He acknowledged the dress could have been gathered around her knees, but maintained it didn’t rise above her hips, keeping the undergarments in place.

Costner’s attorneys, Marty Singer and T. Wayne Harman, provided declarations from cast and crew members backing his account, along with text messages that Labella sent after filming. In one message, she expressed gratitude for the experience, saying, “Thank you for these amazing weeks! I learned a lot… I’m so glad that it worked out as well as it was.” Singer and Herman argued that the message conveyed “no anger or resentment, just enthusiasm and gratitude.”