Kevin Costner has opened up about working with women weeks after being sued by a stunt double in his latest film Horizon over a ‘violent and unscripted’ rape scene.
The 70-year-old star appeared for a Q&A with Michael Strahan at Fanatics Fest in New York City on Friday.
He was asked by the 53-year-old Good Morning America host how he has been able to work romantic storylines into his sports and western films.
Costner even mentioned the film at the center of his recent lawsuit as he responded: ‘But movies for me, you just can’t have a movie without having a girl. And these movies, even in my westerns when I did Horizon, it’s dominated by women.
‘It’s just dominated by, and I just think they made for the best movies, the games we play and the professional athletes, it is a three hour day for them.’
He went on to say that when it came to the sports movies that he’s done, often times the lives of his characters off the field were more captivating than on the field.
Costner explained: ‘They basically practice the entire year, but they have these lives outside the lines of what they play. And that’s where a lot of drama takes place.
‘And I think in the sports movies, I think I’ve always felt the need to have women.’
His comments came just weeks after he found himself in a legal battle as a female stunt double that worked on his $100million Western epic Horizon has filed a sexual harassment lawsuit against him and the film’s producers.
Devyn LaBella alleges that she was subjected to an unscripted rape scene without notice on the set of the second and final Horizon film — Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 2 — in May 2023.
According to court docs obtained by DailyMail.com, LaBella filed her lawsuit in Los Angeles County Superior Court on Tuesday, claiming that she ‘was the victim of a violent, unscripted, unscheduled rape scene directed by Kevin Costner.’
LaBella — who was hired as a stunt double for lead actress Ella Hunt — claimed to have never consented to the alleged scene, which she says left her with ‘permanent trauma,’ and that there was no intimacy coordinator present.
The outlet reports that LaBella is ‘suing for an undisclosed amount and wants a trial by jury.’
Costner’s attorney Marty Singer slammed LaBella as a ‘serial accuser’ as he vehemently denied her claims, which he insisted have ‘absolutely no merit,’ in a statement.
He said that Costner ‘always wants to make sure that everyone is comfortable working on his films and takes safety on set very seriously.’
Singer, who accused LaBella of ‘shakedown tactics,’ also alleged that she had approved and rehearsed the scene with another actor prior to filming.
He also claimed she was in ‘good spirits’ afterwards and had expressed gratitude for the opportunity via text to Horizon’s stunt coordinator.
In one alleged text, which was shared with PEOPLE, LaBella reportedly sent cartwheel and heart hand emojis to the stunt coordinator.
Singer concluded: ‘The facts are clear and we are beyond confident that Kevin will prevail.’
In LaBella’s suit filed Tuesday, the stuntwoman claimed that she was hired on for part two of Horizon as Ella Hunt’s stunt double.
As per the SAG agreement, LaBella was to stand-in for the actress ‘during physical scenes,’ as well as for any stunts.
According to LaBella’s complaint, any ‘last minute requests for nudity or simulated sex’ are not allowed by SAG and the film’s producers are expected to give 48-hours notice of any changes.
The performer’s permission is also required when it comes to any changes related to intimate scenes.
It was also claimed that having a ‘coordinator for all intimacy scenes’ was a requirement noted in Hunt’s contract.
Weeks into filming and ‘without incident,’ LaBella was told to stand-in for Hunt during a ‘scripted, aggressive and intimate rape scene’ due to its ‘physical nature.’
The scene was between Hunt’s character Juliette and a male character Sig, played by actor Douglas Smith, and it was filmed on May 1, 2023, according to the lawsuit.
The scene reportedly ‘wrapped’ with ‘no issues’ following multiple takes.
One day later, LaBella — whose credits include Barbie (2023) and FX’s American Horror Stories — alleged that she returned to the set of Horizon 2 for a ‘non-intimate scene.’
But LaBella claimed that director Costner, who was allegedly on set that day, had added in a scene where a different male character, played by Roger Ivens, sexually assaults Hunt’s Juliette.
Costner allegedly directed Ivens to ‘climb on top of Ms. Hunt, violently raking up her skirt.’
LaBella, who insists in her lawsuit that the scene was not listed on that day’s call sheet, was allegedly asked by Costner to ‘stand in’ for Hunt ‘without proper notice, consent, preparation, or appropriate safeguard measures in place.’
She claimed that such a request ‘was not within the scope of her role as a stunt double.’
LaBella also alleged that she was unaware that Hunt herself had refused to do the scene — and that the actress had allegedly even gone as far as to walk off set.
LaBella said her consent was not given to go through with the scene as she claimed it differed greatly from the rape scene shot on May 1, 2023, which had been choreographed, etc.
Adding to her discomfort was the film’s alleged open set, which would have allowed ‘anyone’ to walk on set and ‘observe the scene being performed.’
LaBella claimed that Costner did not call out ‘action’ or ‘cut’ during the scene, which meant she wasn’t aware when it began or ended. She further alleged that neither the film’s stunt coordinator or the intimacy coordinator were present during the filming of the impromptu scene or informed it was happening.
The impact of the scene took a toll on LaBella, according to her lawsuit, as she allegedly broke down and experienced ‘reminders of shame, humiliation and complete lack of control.’
LaBella claimed that it was ‘awkward’ when she returned to set after taking several days off and that she was allegedly told to stay off set and remain in her trailer alone.
She also claimed that those involved in the production ‘made excuses’ for Costner throughout the remainder of the shoot.
LaBella claims that the onset incident has left her ‘with permanent trauma that she will be required to address for years to come.’
She said she began suffering from ‘sleep disturbance, fears of intimacy’ and ‘anxiety,’ which drove her to seek the help of a therapist in June 2023.
‘On that day, I was left exposed, unprotected, and deeply betrayed by a system that promised safety and professionalism. What happened to me shattered my trust and forever changed how I move through this industry,’ she shared in a statement to PEOPLE on Tuesday.
‘As I continue performing and step into my journey of stunt coordination, I operate with a fierce commitment to upholding the highest standards, creating sets where safety, communication, and consent are non-negotiable.
‘This experience has ignited in me a lifelong mission to be the advocate I once needed, ensuring no one else is ever left as vulnerable as I was.’
LaBella’s attorney James A. Vagnini called the lawsuit ’emblematic of what is still a very deep rooted issue in Hollywood.’
LaBella’s other attorney Kate McFarlane added that the ‘case is a clear example of male-dominated, sexist Hollywood movie production.
‘Our client was subjected to brutal sexual conduct completely unprotected from the obvious harm. This happened despite the fact that there exists standards of conduct and behavior specifically designed to protect people like Devyn LaBella,’ McFarlane concluded.
