Kevin Costner under pressure: Stunt woman raises serious allegations!

Kevin Costner under pressure: Stunt woman raises serious allegations!

In a worrying case of alleged abuse on the film set, stunt actress Devyn Labella makes serious allegations against the actor, director and producer Kevin Costner. The lawsuit was submitted on May 27, 2023 and concerns the filming for the second part of the western series "Horizon: to American Saga-Chapter 2". According to Labella, she was forced to an improvised rape scene without proper notification or approval, which she describes as traumatizing and humiliating.

According to the application, no intimacy coordinator was present at the set, and the scene was shot under conditions that did not correspond to the established standards of the Sag-Aftra actor union. Costner, who is responsible for the requirements of production, rejected the allegations of his lawyer and referred to it as a "blackmail tactics". His lawyer, Marty Singer, claims that Labella signaled her consent to participate in the scene after a rehearsal.

inadequate safety precautions

Labella, who worked as a stunt double for the actress Ella Hunt, reports that on May 2, 2023, she was involved in a scene in which a male actor was instructed to capture her and pull her skirt up. This was done without warning, preparation or barrier of the set. Contradictory to this incident, Labella was used the day before in a professionally and securely carried out rape scene, in which all the necessary safety precautions, including an intimate coordinator, had been taken.

After the incriminating incident, Labella was no longer invited to further filming, and the stunt coordinator ended the collaboration with her. She expressed that she felt defenseless and cheated on this day, which fits in the context of an increasingly illuminated problem in the film and television industry.

a code for respectful behavior

To prevent such incidents, a code of conduct called "Respect Code Film" was introduced in Germany. This code is intended to promote respectful behavior in the industry and provide zero tolerance towards sexual nuisance, violence, discrimination, stalking, bullying and disrespectful behavior. Employers are obliged to set up complaints and implement preventive measures such as training and a feedback system in order to avoid discrimination and violence.

The code applies to all phases of film production, including castings and business trips, and provides for the introduction of intimacy coordinators for sensitive scenes to ensure the safety of the actors. These developments are particularly relevant in the context of the incident around Kevin Costner and underline the need for a comprehensive reform in dealing with sensitive topics on the set.

The incident around Devyn Labella and Kevin Costner shows the profound problems with which the film industry is faced with, and raises important questions about the security standards used and dealing with the rights of the actors.

For more information on this topic, the articles on tz.de, stern.de and Zeit.de