Who Is Devyn LaBella? The Stuntwoman Suing Kevin Costner Over Unscripted Rape Scene in Horizon

Kevin Costner and his Horizon franchise are currently facing legal troubles as stunt performer Devyn LaBella has filed a lawsuit against them. She alleges that she was forced to participate in a violent, unscripted rape scene without proper notice, consent, or the presence of a mandated intimacy coordinator. But who exactly is Devyn LaBella, and what’s her story? Here’s a closer look.

Devyn LaBella: Stunt Performer, Actress, and Producer

Devyn LaBella is a versatile stuntwoman and actress with a solid career in the entertainment industry. She has worked as a stunt double, coordinator, and performer on many well-known projects such as Barbie, The Rookie, 9-1-1, Yellowjackets, and LA’s Finest. Alongside her stunt work, LaBella also acts, having started as a child artist.

One of her earliest TV appearances was on Friends in the episode “The One With Rachel’s Inadvertent Kiss” (Season 5, Episode 17), where she played a little girl. She has also been seen in American Horror Stories, playing roles like Crawling Feral and stunt doubling Rubberwoman. Her acting credits include CSI Vegas, Quantum Leap (2022), and After Lately.

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Athletic Background and Personal Life

Before becoming a stuntwoman, Devyn was an accomplished athlete. She won multiple California State Champion titles in gymnastics and competed as a Junior Olympian in track and field. In a 2018 interview, she shared that her mother enrolled her in gymnastics at the age of three, which suited her perfectly alongside track and field training.

In March 2022, Devyn married director and screenwriter Alex Goyette. Together, they collaborated on a TV series called Aliwood, directed by Goyette.

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The Incident on Horizon Set

LaBella was hired as the stunt double for Ella Hunt, who stars as Juliette in Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 2. Filming took place in Utah. The lawsuit claims that on May 2, 2023, Kevin Costner directed an unscripted rape scene involving LaBella without prior warning or consent.

Ella Hunt refused to perform the scene after it was suddenly introduced without the required intimacy coordinator. LaBella was then asked to step in, unaware of the scene’s violent nature. She alleges being left vulnerable and traumatized by the experience.

Legal Battle and Industry Reactions

LaBella’s complaint accuses the production of breaching SAG-AFTRA rules, which require 48 hours’ notice and the presence of an intimacy coordinator for such scenes. The lawsuit states this impromptu demand caused severe emotional trauma and a hostile work environment.

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Kevin Costner’s attorney denied the allegations, claiming LaBella had consented and was “in good spirits” after the scene. The lawyer also labeled her a “serial accuser.” On the other side, LaBella’s attorney describes the case as a glaring example of a male-dominated industry failing to protect vulnerable performers.

Reports also suggest that after LaBella reported the incident, she was not rehired for further Horizon work.

This case shines a spotlight on the ongoing struggle for safety and respect for performers, especially stunt professionals, within Hollywood.