The lawsuit explains that on May 1, 2023, LaBella doubled for Hunt in a rape that followed SAG-AFTRA protocol. Costner closed the set to anyone but the principal participants, providing an intimacy coordinator and rehearsal time for the actors, and had the performers’ consent. “Every movement and sequence was rehearsed multiple times with Ms. LaBella’s stunt coordinator days before the scene was due to be shot,” the suit reads. On May 2, LaBella arrived on set to double for Hunt in a “non-intimate scene” that featured, per the call sheet, “Juliette rakes thru a chest drawer with Hugh’s clothes, gets his carbine gun with handwritten instructions.” When Hunt arrived on set, Costner allegedly added new scenes in which Hunt’s scene partner, Roger Ivens, a 6’2″ 220 pound stunt performer, would “climb on top of Ms. Hunt, violently raking up her skirt.” The suit claims that, unbeknownst to LaBella, Hunt had left the set “visibly upset” due to the script changes and absence of an intimacy coordinator. The filing continues, “this unscripted, unrehearsed scene consisted of Mr. Ivens mounting Ms. LaBella while miming the unbuttoning of his pants, and using his body and arms forcibly pinning down Ms. LaBella, who was on her back underneath him. Mr. Ivens violently rustled Ms. LaBella’s skirt up as if trying to penetrate her against her will.” LaBella claims that, because this was not a closed set, over one hundred people viewed the scene, and that Costner had failed to properly call “action” or “cut.”
Costner has denied the allegations through his attorney, Marty Singer, who in a statement to Variety said Costner “always wants to make sure that everyone is comfortable working on his films and takes safety on set very seriously. However, this claim by Devyn LaBella has absolutely no merit, and it is completely contradicted by her own actions – and the facts,” Singer said. “Ms. LaBella is a serial accuser of people in the entertainment industry and has worked with the same lawyer on past claims. But those shakedown tactics won’t work in this case.” Singer says that she was in “good spirits” after the scene and “made no complaints.” As evidence, Singer produced a text message from LaBella to her famous and influential boss, Kevin Costner, “Thank you for these wonderful weeks! I so appreciate you! I learned so much and thank you again. I’m really happy it worked out the way it did to. Have a great rest of the shoot and yes talk soon!”
LaBella claims the incident was traumatic and caused her to go into therapy. “On that day, I was left exposed, unprotected, and deeply betrayed by a system that promised safety and professionalism,” LaBella said. “What happened to me shattered my trust and forever changed how I move through this industry.”
