Kevin Costner Claps Back At Horizon Lawsuit: Calls Rape Scene Claims A 'Hollywood Hit Job'

Kevin Costner’s Legal Counterattack in Tinseltown Drama

Hollywood’s own Kevin Costner is not backing down from a messy legal showdown over his latest project, Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 2. On August 20, 2025, the actor-director dropped a bombshell filing in Los Angeles Superior Court, slamming a lawsuit from stunt performer Devyn LaBella as pure fiction. Costner, a veteran of the LA scene, called the claims of a forced, violent rape scene on set 'patently false' and a total gut punch, especially given the sweat he’s poured into this sprawling Western.

The lawsuit, first filed back in May by LaBella, paints a grim picture of a May 2023 shoot gone wrong. She alleges Costner improvised a brutal scene where a male actor pinned her down to simulate sexual assault - no consent, no intimacy coordinator, no safety nets. LaBella, doubling for actress Ella Hunt (who reportedly passed on the scene), claims the experience left her shaken, and she’s gunning for damages over sexual harassment and emotional trauma.

But Costner’s not taking this lying down. He’s calling it a calculated move to drag his name through the Hollywood mud and sabotage his Horizon saga, a project with serious SoCal summer energy behind it. This ain’t just a red carpet spat - it’s a full-on legal brawl in the heart of LA.

Costner’s Defense: Art, Not Assault

In his court declaration, obtained by Variety, Costner didn’t hold back. He insists the scene in question wasn’t some graphic assault but a carefully crafted shot meant to hint at off-screen horror - a nod to the brutal realities of women in the post-Civil War West. 'I can only assume this was a play to embarrass me and damage Horizon for a big, unjustified payout,' he argued in the filing, throwing shade at the stunt performer’s motives.

'This isn’t about art; it’s about someone trying to turn a creative choice into a scandal for clout and cash,' a source close to Costner’s camp told us, reflecting the frustration brewing on his side of this Hollywood drama.

To back his story, Costner’s legal crew rolled out California’s anti-SLAPP law - a shield for free speech on public issues - arguing that Horizon’s raw take on history deserves protection. They’ve also got receipts, including crew statements that poke holes in LaBella’s version of events and even text messages where she allegedly thanked her supervisor for the gig, gushing about the experience. Talk about a plot twist straight outta a Sunset Strip screenplay.

LaBella’s Team Fires Back Amid Legal Heat

Devyn LaBella’s attorney, Jeff Vagnini, isn’t buying Costner’s push to dismiss the case. He’s calling the motion 'baseless' and a desperate stall tactic to dodge accountability. With unspecified damages on the table for harassment and trauma, this lawsuit is shaping up to be a major reputational clash for Costner, whose career has long been tied to iconic Westerns with that rugged Cali vibe.

The battle is far from over, and all eyes are on the LA courts to see how this unfolds. Will Costner ride off into the Malibu sunset unscathed, or will LaBella’s claims stick and shake up his legacy? One thing’s for sure - this drama’s got more layers than a Venice Beach boardwalk convo, and we’re here for every juicy update.