Kevin Costner’s On-Set Unscripted R*pe Scene Controversy Explained: His Response, What It Entails & More

Kevin Costner denies claims of an unscripted, violent r*pe scene on Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 2, calling the lawsuit a “bold-faced lie”.

Trigger Warning.

This article contains detailed discussion of alleged on-set s*xual violence and trauma, which may evoke distress or discomfort.

Kevin Costner has struck back hard at allegations accusing him of orchestrating an unscripted, violent r*pe scene on the set of Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 2.

Stunt performer Devyn LaBella, lead double for actress Ella Hunt, filed a lawsuit claiming she was forced into a harrowing simulated s*xual assault without prior warning, consent, or the presence of an intimacy coordinator, a clear violation of SAG-AFTRA’s stringent safety protocols (via The Guardian).

LaBella alleged that after Hunt refused to shoot the scene, Costner summoned her to the set unawares, directing a male actor to mount, pin down, and repeatedly assault her in a scene that was improvised on the spot.

However, the Yellowstone star has recently branded the accusations a “bold-faced lie” aimed at tarnishing his reputation and insists that LaBella’s claims are contradicted by crew testimony.

Kevin Costner’s Alleged Unscripted R*pe Scene: Lawsuit, His Response & What Happened

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Devyn LaBella claimed she was blindsided on May 2, 2023, when Kevin Costner allegedly directed an unplanned, graphic scene where a male actor simulated r*pe, running multiple takes.

Unlike the day before, which followed protocol with rehearsals and an intimacy coordinator, this time things reportedly went off-script.

With Ella Hunt backing out, LaBella said she was left to pick up the pieces.

LaBella’s lawsuit cited violations of SAG-AFTRA’s contract terms, which require 48 hours’ notice and explicit consent for such scenes.

She also underscored the absence of the mandatory intimacy coordinator, putting her safety and dignity at risk (via The Guardian).

Meanwhile, Costner’s legal team painted a different reality.

They cited multiple veteran crew testimonies, photographs, and LaBella’s own positive messages after filming to claim the scene was never unscripted or abusive.

According to them, the sequence was a foretelling of off-screen violence, not an actual violent act.

The post-incident text from LaBella reads (per The Guardian):

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 too.

Have a great rest of the shoot and yes talk soon!

In a June amendment, Celeste Chaney, the film’s intimacy coordinator, corroborated LaBella’s testimony, describing the incident as an “unscheduled, unplanned violent r*pe scene” that “was unexpectedly sprung on the actors and stunt professionals.” Chaney emphasized that LaBella “did not consent to the action that was directed once she was in place” and highlighted that

She did not have the appropriate modesty garments to ensure adequate coverage, safety, or protection.

Note that Costner walked away from a fat paycheck on Yellowstone to chase a passion project, Horizon, a planned four-part saga.

What We Know About the Fate of Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 3

Kevin Costner and Jamie Campbell Bower in Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1 | Credit: Warner Bros.

Filming for Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 3 began alongside Chapter 2 in Utah but faced interruptions from the 2023 writers’ and actors’ strikes (per THR).

Despite this, Kevin Costner has not lost faith, having founded Territory Film Studios in Utah to shepherd the project forward.

Scripts for all four films in the saga are reportedly complete, and casting calls for background roles began in May 2024.

Principal photography for Chapter 3 officially started on May 13, 2024, a slight delay from planned dates due to funding logistics.

Costner shared with Deadline:

I wanted to start April 25th, but I’ve got to find the money.

I wanted to start May 6th, but I needed to find the money.

I’ve moved myself to May 13th, and I’m going to start my movie.

I don’t give a sh*t now.

I’m just going to start it.

In a 2024 chat with TODAY, Costner has openly admitted the box office performance of the first installment was disappointing:

A lot of times the things that you want to make don’t immediately resonate with anyone else.

It’s only after you’re done that people begin to understand what it was, and almost, they take ownership themselves, of ‘I love this movie.

I love these characters.

I didn’t know where this story was going.’

However, he promised to complete filming by early 2025 and told reporters at the Venice Film Festival that, despite uncertainties, he will “make it” (per Deadline).

Film
Rotten Tomatoes
Metacritic

Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1
51%
49/100

Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 2
54%
49/100

Critics remain lukewarm, audiences are divided, and the shadow of controversy looms large over the franchise’s future.

So, what’s your gut feeling? Will these claims be a wrench in Horizon’s gears, or could they be the spark that lights a fire under the industry’s blind spots?

Don’t sit on the fence; drop your thoughts in the comments.

Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1 is streaming on Max (US).