Kevin Costner counters lawsuit with revealing set photos

Kevin Costner is firing back with photographic evidence in a legal showdown that’s got Hollywood buzzing. The 70-year-old actor and director, known for his epic westerns like the “Horizon” series, is defending himself against a lawsuit by stuntwoman Devyn LaBella, who claims she was coerced into an unscripted, violent scene during filming. This isn’t just a he-said-she-said; Costner’s court filings are loaded with images and statements that challenge her narrative.

The crux of this saga unfolded during the production of “Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 2,” where LaBella, doubling for actress Ella Hunt, alleges she was forced into a distressing, unscheduled depiction of sexual assault inside a wagon, though Costner insists the assault itself was never shown on screen.

Let’s rewind to the filming in May 2023, when the disputed scene was shot. LaBella, as the stunt double for Hunt’s character, Juliette, was part of a sequence meant to imply an off-screen attack, with only a fleeting moment—a hand pulling the hem of a dress from ankle to knee—visible to the audience. Costner maintains this was meticulously planned, with no simulated assault, nudity, or physical aggression involved.

Behind-the-Scenes Photos Tell a Different Story

Costner’s legal team isn’t just talking; they’ve got receipts in the form of behind-the-scenes snapshots from that day. These images show LaBella, dressed in full costume with bike shorts beneath an ankle-length dress, lying next to actor Roger Ivens in a covered wagon, appearing to smile and look at ease during rehearsals. If a picture’s worth a thousand words, these might just be Costner’s best defense.

According to Costner, the scene was scripted, blocked with LaBella’s input, and executed with her consent. He describes a tightly controlled shot where Ivens lifts the dress hem and positions himself over her on all fours, with her outer dress bunched at the knees but below the waist, and undergarments undisturbed. This, he argues, was far from the exploitative horror LaBella describes.

Costner’s sworn statements double down: “The simple act of moving the hem of the dress from the ankle to the knee created a moment of absolute clarity for the audience to absorb what would happen off-screen.” That’s a director’s precision, not a reckless violation, and it’s a stark contrast to the progressive narrative of unchecked power in Hollywood that LaBella’s team pushes. One wonders if this clarity was lost in translation on set.

LaBella’s Claims Clash With Evidence

LaBella’s lawsuit, filed in May 2023, paints a grim picture, alleging she was left overwhelmed and shocked, with her undergarments exposed during the shoot. She insists, “What happened to me on that set was a reckless violation – a breach of consent and basic workplace safety.” But if distress was so evident, why do Costner’s filings include declarations from cast and crew that contradict her emotional turmoil?

Then there’s the curious aftermath—LaBella sent a text to a supervisor post-shoot, saying, “Thank you for these wonderful weeks!” That’s hardly the tone of someone reeling from trauma, and it raises questions about when and why her perspective shifted. Costner claims he had no inkling of her upset until months later, when she lawyered up.

LaBella’s amended complaint, submitted mid-June 2023, doubles down with text exchanges involving the film’s intimacy coordinator and accounts of painful emotions post-scene. She passionately states, “This case is not just about what happened to me. It’s about a broken system that protects those in power.”

Costner Demands Dismissal of Allegations

Yet, Costner’s response, backed by attorney Marty Singer, isn’t buying into what they see as a revisionist tale spun by LaBella’s legal team. Nearly two months after her reiterated claims in late June 2023, accusing Costner of trying to silence her, his filings demand the lawsuit’s dismissal. This isn’t just a defense; it’s a counterpunch against what some might call a culture of overreach in grievance claims.

Costner’s stance is clear: “There would be no simulated rape, simulated sex, gyrating, violent restraint, nudity, or any physicality.” That’s a categorical denial of the sensationalism LaBella alleges, and in an industry often quick to bow to progressive pressures, it’s a bold line in the sand. Hollywood’s obsession with narrative over evidence might just meet its match here.

LaBella’s attorney, James A. Vagnini, fires back, claiming, “the Defendants failed her in every possible way.” But when photos show smiles and texts express gratitude, one has to ask if this failure is fact or a constructed storyline meant to fit a broader agenda. The court will decide, but public opinion often sways on less.

Hollywood’s Culture War on Trial

This case isn’t just about a single scene; it’s a microcosm of the tension between traditional filmmaking grit and the modern insistence on hyper-sensitivity at every turn. Costner’s defense suggests a professional environment where consent and choreography ruled, not coercion. Meanwhile, LaBella’s narrative feeds into a familiar trope of victimhood that’s hard to challenge without seeming callous.

Yet, balance demands we consider both sides without rushing to judgment. If LaBella felt violated, that’s a serious concern, but if evidence shows consent and comfort, as Costner’s photos imply, then this lawsuit risks becoming another cautionary tale of overcorrecting for perceived wrongs. The truth likely lies in the messy middle, where intention and perception collide.

Ultimately, as “Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 2” moves forward in the broader western series, this legal dust-up could redefine how sensitive scenes are handled—or at least how they’re litigated. Costner’s push for dismissal isn’t just about clearing his name; it’s a stand against what many see as a culture too eager to cry foul without the full picture. Let’s hope the court prioritizes facts over feelings, whichever way the gavel falls.