Behind 'Horizon 2’s' Rape Scene Scandal — A Coordinator Speaks Out
Accusations gain new weight.
It wasn’t just the lawsuit from stunt performer Devyn LaBella that sent shockwaves through the production of Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 2. Now, the film’s own intimacy coordinator, Celeste Chaney, has come forward — and her report backs up the most troubling parts of LaBella’s claims.
In a two-page statement obtained by Variety, Chaney outlines how a "hyper-exposed" rape scene was filmed without her knowledge or presence — a clear breach of protocol on a set involving nudity, vulnerability, and power dynamics. "Appropriate protocols were abandoned," she wrote, stating LaBella was placed in a compromising situation and asked to continue while surrounded by the entire crew. No privacy. No preparation. Just pressure.
"She was put on the spot, placed in a vulnerable, compromising situation, and then asked if she was 'okay to continue' with everyone standing by," Chaney wrote. "At this point, her consent was not freely given — it was made under duress."
The scene, according to the report, wasn’t in the script. LaBella was asked to stand in after actress Ella Hunt reportedly walked off set. Chaney makes it clear: LaBella did not consent to what unfolded. And worse — no intimacy coordinator was there to stop it.
"Intimacy coordinators should always be on set for these scenes," Chaney stated, "to safeguard and support the actors, help the director achieve their vision, and protect the production."
Her words are more than a critique — they’re a warning. Not just for Horizon 2, but for every set where safety protocols are treated as optional, and actors are left to navigate vulnerability alone.
