Yellowstone’s Offscreen Drama Through the Years: On-Set Tension, Political Controversy and More
Yellowstone is known for its over-the-top plot lines and complicated family drama, but the show’s cast and crew has also been involved in plenty of offscreen controversy over the years.
Since the Paramount Network series premiered in June 2018, actors along with cocreator Taylor Sheridan have fended off criticism that the show is written with a conservative audience in mind. “They refer to it as ‘the conservative show’ or ‘the Republican show’ or ‘the red-state Game of Thrones,’” the Oscar nominee told The Atlantic in November 2022. “And I just sit back laughing. I’m like, ‘Really?’”
The Sons of Anarchy alum went on to claim that the family drama has tackled plenty of controversial topics over the years without resorting to cliches. “The show’s talking about the displacement of Native Americans and the way Native American women were treated and about corporate greed and the gentrification of the West, and land-grabbing,” Sheridan said. “That’s a red-state show?”
Yellowstone lead actor Kevin Costner, meanwhile, has faced criticism from conservative viewers for his personal political opinions. After he wore a shirt supporting former Congresswoman Liz Cheney‘s 2022 re-election bid, he clapped back at fans who claimed they would stop watching the show because he took a stance on the campaign. Cheney, who lost her primary election to Harriet Hageman, has been an outspoken critic of former President Donald Trump.
“I was clear that she probably wasn’t going to win her election. But I wanted to let her know, as a citizen, how much I appreciated her brave, clear-headed stance,” the Oscar winner told USA Today in November 2022. “I didn’t really care how the cookie crumbles, that people that liked me now don’t like me. That’s OK.”
Cheney is a Republican, but Costner has also shown his support for Democratic candidates. In December 2019, the Dances With Wolves director endorsed Pete Buttigieg for the 2020 presidential nomination. “When Pete speaks of unity, it’s the kind of unity I’ve been waiting and hoping to hear about,” Costner said of the Secretary of Transportation at the time. “The strength he describes isn’t the kind that limits compassion in the name of America.”
Though some viewers have threatened to stop watching Yellowstone for one reason or another, the series remains one of the most popular shows currently on the air. The season 5 premiere in November 2022 drew 12.1 million viewers, making it the most popular scripted series of the 2022-23 TV season. “We’ve been able to create a show that didn’t start out being popular, but did it on its own terms,” Costner said of the show’s massive success at the time in an interview with the Associated Press.
Keep scrolling for a look back at Yellowstone‘s biggest offscreen drama:
Kevin Costner’s Divorce
In May 2023, Costner’s wife, Christine Baumgartner, filed for divorce in Santa Barbara, California, after 18 years of marriage. Baumgartner cited “irreconcilable differences” as the cause of the split. “It is with great sadness that circumstances beyond his control have transpired which have resulted in Mr. Costner having to participate in a dissolution of marriage action,” Costner’s rep said in a statement to TMZ at the time. “We ask that his, Christine’s, and their children’s privacy be respected as they navigate this difficult time.”
The pair, who wed in 2004, share three children: sons Cayden and Hayes and daughter Grace. Costner, for his part, also shares Annie, Lily and Joe with his first wife, Cindy Silva, and son Liam with ex-girlfriend Bridget Rooney. According to TMZ, Baumgartner asked for joint custody of their kids.
In August 2023, Baumgartner’s legal team claimed that Costner “refused” to say whether he was offered a role in a potential sixth season of Yellowstone “or if he simply chose to quit.” The questioning came in a deposition about his income ahead of a hearing to determine the amount of child support he will pay Baumgartner.
PaleyFest Dropouts
Costner, Sheridan and fellow Yellowstone stars Cole Hauser, Luke Grimes, Wes Bentley, Kelly Reilly, Kelsey Asbille, Gil Birmingham and Jacki Weaver were all slated to attend a Paley Center panel and screening in April 2023. However, “scheduling conflicts” forced them to drop out last minute. Four of their costars — Josh Lucas, Wendy Moniz, Mo Brings Plenty and Dawn Olivieri — attended the event in their places.
PaleyFest came on the heels of season 5’s filming delay and rumors surrounding Costner’s potential exit, though the network’s development president, Keith Cox, confirmed during the panel that he was “very confident” in the Dances With Wolves star’s commitment to Yellowstone and is hopeful that production would begin soon.
