Dark Details About Yellowstone

As a die-hard fan, I must confess that “Yellowstone” isn’t your typical feel-good show. It delves deep into murky waters, filled with underhanded dealings, heated family feuds, and other unsettling events. This Western drama doesn’t shy away from being ruthless or unforgiving. And it seems that the chaos behind the scenes mirrors the turmoil on screen. Intriguingly, there was a reported legal standoff between the show’s creator, Taylor Sheridan, and leading star, Kevin Costner. This dispute over Costner’s requested time off escalated to such an extent that it significantly altered the final season of the series. Unfortunately, this altercation led to the premature departure of John Dutton, Costner’s character, from the show, even though the decision left several plot threads unresolved.

However, the issues faced by “Yellowstone” during its run on television extend far beyond what is immediately apparent. Controversies arose from several quarters, such as Native American groups criticizing the show for misrepresenting reservation life and casting non-natives in native roles. Additionally, Montana ranchers and locals were displeased with how the show depicted life within the state. There are numerous unpalatable behind-the-scenes stories that fans may not be privy to regarding various incidents that occurred throughout the filming of all five seasons of “Yellowstone.

The Duttons’ story reflects Montana’s dark history

The tale of the Dutton family might initially seem like a charming fable: a resilient family acquires a piece of land in Montana, but their Native American neighbors predict that they must prove their worth for seven generations before the land is returned to its original inhabitants. Remarkably, due to John Dutton’s arrogance and his children’s disputes, the ownership of the land eventually reverts back to Chief Thomas Rainwater (Gil Birmingham) and his tribe following Dutton’s demise – a full seven generations after James Dutton (Tim McGraw) first settled there. The show sometimes romanticizes the Dutton family’s story in an unusual manner, which is one aspect that fans tend to overlook. Simultaneously, it indirectly highlights one of the series’ most significant issues.

As a passionate history enthusiast, I can’t help but acknowledge that the portrayal of early settlers and native tribes in shows like “Yellowstone” often fall short of the grim truth. While there were instances of coexistence, it’s essential to remember that millions of Native Americans suffered greatly, with countless lives lost in their struggle to preserve their lands.

In 2023, during an interview with CBS’ Sunday Morning, Kevin Costner acknowledged this harsh reality. He eloquently stated, “The ranchers who came here didn’t rightfully own this land.” Instead, they banded together and displaced the native population, a fact that’s easy to overlook amidst the beauty of the American West. However, it’s crucial not to forget the drama, the conflict, and the consequences that still resonate today.

The cast had a long, difficult fight over pay increases

Behind the scenes at “Yellowstone”, a significant conflict unfolded, lasting just a few months but causing a considerable impact on Hollywood’s financial landscape. Following Kevin Costner’s tumultuous exit from the series, it is rumored that Kelly Reilly, Luke Grimes, and Cole Hauser united and negotiated for increased compensation to remain involved in what was intended to be a “Yellowstone” spin-off featuring all three actors.

After Costner left, the remaining actors felt they deserved their salaries since their absence would have caused significant gaps in the plot if Paramount didn’t continue negotiations. It was revealed that Hauser requested $1.25 million per appearance initially, while Reilly originally sought $1.5 million per episode and later lowered it to $1.2 million. Both actors aimed to top Matthew McConaughey on the call sheet, who was set as the main lead. However, when Paramount expressed reluctance, their demands were scaled back. The amount Grimes asked for hasn’t been disclosed, but it was said to be less than both Reilly and Hauser.

– A few months after the disagreement was resolved, production for the remainder of Season 5B swiftly began.
– The planned spin-off series that would follow the actors post-the main series finale eventually got divided into three separate shows.
– Grimes will star in “Y: Marshalls” on CBS, while Reilly and Hauser are set to spearhead a spin-off focusing on Beth and Rip for Paramount+.
– The original spin-off concept abandoned McConaughey and evolved into “The Madison,” now headlined by Michelle Pfeiffer and premiering on Paramount+.

Lily Gladstone spoke out about the show’s lack of faithfulness to real Native issues

Critics, particularly Native American actors and activists, have frequently criticized the TV series “Yellowstone” for casting actors with uncertain or dubious connections to their Native roles. Despite the fact that longtime actor Mo Brings Plenty serves as the American Indian Affairs Coordinator on the show and its spin-offs, many people have protested the way Native life is portrayed, even when Native actors confirmed to belong to the various tribes depicted on screen are featured. Among these critics is Academy Award nominee Lily Gladstone, who has been quite open about her assessment of the drama’s quality.

The actress expressed her feelings about the TV series in just two words: “Delusional! Deplorable!” She told New York Magazine. Although she didn’t mean disrespect towards Native actors who were part of it, she had auditioned multiple times for roles. Her main concern is that the show fails to accurately represent Native perspectives, particularly within its writer’s room. “It’s important to have more Natives writing Native stories,” she said. “Also, we need the experts to be attentive to what’s being portrayed. American history isn’t complete without Native history.” Given that Taylor Sheridan is largely responsible for everything related to the “Yellowstone” universe, her criticism of the show makes sense.

Taylor Sheridan caused frustration by allegedly inflating the show’s budget

Known for his candidness and bluntness, Taylor Sheridan occasionally finds himself embroiled in public controversies. In 2023, the substantial payments Paramount was making to Sheridan for using his ranch and livestock became a subject of debate. This controversy gained traction due to an investigation by The Wall Street Journal. According to the report, Sheridan received up to $50,000 per week to film on his own land, and he also billed Paramount $25 for each cow featured in the show. Furthermore, it was alleged that he paid a Texas ranch hand $3,000 to look after his horses during filming, which took place miles away in Montana.

101 Studios executives expressed their frustration about the situation to reporters. Particularly, they were taken aback when Sheridan seemed to act like a diva, insisting that only his preferred Texas-based horse shoe maker should be used for the show’s horses. This unusual demand prompted an internal email from David Glasser, head of 101 Studios, stating, “Can you believe this? Can’t we find someone local instead?

Marshalls” will also carry a hefty price tag, as CBS President Amy Reisenbach stated to Deadline, “We don’t do cheap.” For now, it’s all luxury and cowboy spirit without any signs of imminent financial trouble.

The show’s portrayal of Native life came under fire

It’s not just Lily Gladstone who expressed criticism about how “Yellowstone” portrayed and cast its Native characters. The show faced criticism for its representation of Native American rituals as well as casting choices that raised eyebrows when actors like Kelsey Asbille, whose heritage is unclear, were cast to play Native roles.

Craig Falcon, an actor from Montana who is part of the Blackfeet nation, expressed his thoughts to Voice of America News about the show’s casting. He stated that although we have a significant Native population here, movie producers and directors are not utilizing this resource. Essentially, he feels we’re repeating history, similar to the times when Iron Eyes Cody was hired – a non-Native actor who wore braided wigs for his roles.

In addition to this, Philimon Wanbli Nunpa, head of the Sicangu Lakota Treaty Council on the Rosebud Reservation, voiced criticism towards the depiction of the “Hanbleceya” ceremony in the TV series “Yellowstone”. He stated that those responsible for authorizing this portrayal would need to face the council’s medicine men. Furthermore, he expressed disapproval at a non-Native character participating in a vision quest. However, Mo Brings Plenty contested these remarks and countered by telling Voice of America that the scene in question was not unusual or difficult to understand, as one could easily find out more about it through a simple online search.

Yellowstone was accused of mutilating a cow for a scene

In 2018, one of the most distressing events off-screen on the set of “Yellowstone” occurred when an insider informed PETA about a genuine cow being harmed during filming for a storyline. As dawn broke and temperatures rose, it became clear that what we were seeing was not a prop, but reality. The whistleblower shared their feelings with PETA, saying, “It’s heartbreaking,” and provided the organization with videos and photos that reportedly depicted animal cruelty. They also asserted that the sight and odor of the deceased animals affected the crew so much that a foul smell permeated the area and left an unpleasant residue on everyone.

Paramount Network firmly asserts that no cow carcass was involved in the creation of the show, emphasizing their strong commitment to animal welfare and professionalism. In a statement released by The Wrap, Kurt Patat, Senior Vice President of Communications for Paramount Network, stated, “We prioritize animal safety with great care and diligence on our set. All animals are managed by skilled handlers. We’ve communicated with PETA regarding the inaccurate allegations they made, which we were able to refute, including the claim that cows were harmed or mutilated for the specific scene.

However, PETA maintained their stance, countering that if Paramount was transparent, they would have disclosed the origin of the cows, rather than prohibiting phone usage during filming of a contentious rodeo sequence.

Yellowstone got heat for mocking environmentalists

As a passionate gamer, I can’t help but draw a parallel with my favorite show “Yellowstone” and its portrayal of animal rights groups in Season 4, represented by the character of eco-terrorist Summer Higgins, played by Piper Perabo. After being convicted for vandalism, she’s pushed into a situation bordering on servitude.

The series boldly underscores one of its core themes: ranching is not just beneficial but also a necessary part of our world. Any notion that the ranching industry harms the environment, poses health risks to humans, or has detrimental impacts globally should be met with skepticism and disregard. It’s as if the show is saying, “Got your argument? Here’s a good laugh!

Environmental critics argue that the depiction of ranching’s effects on Earth within the show is at best simplistic and at worst biased against other perspectives. Scott Russell Smith, from Friends of Animals, expressed this viewpoint particularly during Summer’s storyline by stating, “The land taken from Native Americans by the Dutton family rightfully belongs to Monica’s people and the buffalo, elk, antelopes, grizzlies, and wolves. These creatures need Yellowstone Dutton Ranch to maintain a balanced and thriving ecosystem.” Despite this criticism, the show remained unwavering in its stance, sparking ongoing debate until the series concluded.

Yellowstone was critiqued for its violence

The TV series “Yellowstone” received a lot of praise from critics, even though it didn’t quite reach the Emmy award levels achieved by shows like “Succession” or “Better Call Saul.” However, while most reviews for Taylor Sheridan’s Western were favorable, the show has been criticized for its excessive violence in some scenes.

In a less-than-favorable critique, Michael Hann of The Guardian commended the show’s moral complexity but criticized “Yellowstone” for its excessive violence, gore, and onscreen killings. He went so far as to suggest that instead of viewing it as Succession transposed onto a ranch, it might be more accurate to compare it to Game of Thrones on a ranch. Hann further noted that justice in Yellowstone is reminiscent of the Middle Ages, being swiftly administered without regard for legal texts or court proceedings. Miscreants are often summarily executed, and the Dutton family takes matters into their own hands, resolving conflicts with law enforcement at a later time.

It’s worth noting that The Parents Television and Media Council surprisingly commended the edited version of “Yellowstone” shown on CBS, stating that it was suitable for younger audiences to watch.

Montana ranchers accused it of giving their business a bad name

Despite generating substantial tourism revenue and publicity for Montana, many real-life ranchers who earn a living through ranching – similar to John Dutton’s fictional character in “Yellowstone” – are critical of the show as they feel it tarnishes their industry’s image. While some ranchers reported an increase in visitors due to the drama created by Taylor Sheridan, others found that the show made it more challenging for them to operate their businesses effectively.

One rancher interviewed for a Washington Post article expressed concern that the popular series “Yellowstone” was tarnishing the reputation of Montana’s ranching industry. Mark Greeno, who works at Nine Quarter Circle Ranch, stated bluntly that the show had given ranchers a negative image. While others interviewed by the paper saw the attention brought by the show as beneficial to the region, Greeno felt differently about its impact on his specific industry.

Other residents of the state had less severe criticisms, focusing more on minor inaccuracies that the series presented to its audience. For instance, Nathan St. Goddard, a local cafe owner, noted that “Yellowstone” was filmed during summer, which might explain why viewers are surprised by the cold and strong winds depicted in the show. He added that it seems like it’s 80 degrees and ideal weather in ‘Yellowstone.’

It damaged the economy of Utah by moving production

Initially, the stunning landscapes featured in the early seasons of “Yellowstone” are intended to represent the untamed wilderness of Montana. However, these breathtaking views are actually found in Utah. It’s interesting to note that approximately 75% of Season 1 to Season 3 was filmed in Utah, which might explain why state officials were displeased when the series decided to shoot its final two seasons exclusively in Montana.

Given the financial constraints, it’s not surprising that the production decided to relocate. When the show exceeded Utah’s $8.3 million cap on tax rebates and incentives, they shifted bases to Montana, where the initial cap was $10 million and subsequently increased to $12 million by the state senate. This shift occurred despite the fact that Utah had been providing the show with at least $7 million in incentives per season. The relocation resulted in a loss of a $30 million annual economic boost that “Yellowstone” had been contributing to Utah.

In the realm of tourism, it’s common excitement when a convention arrives and guests lodge in hotels for a week. For Marshall Moore, having a series like ‘Yellowstone’ was similar to hosting a five-month long convention. He conversed with numerous crew members and some cast, who shared their deep sadness and heartbreak. They had grown fond of the place; some even purchased homes and enrolled their children in school here. Regrettably, despite the emotional impact, the show did not return to Utah after its move.

The show was accused of ruining Montana’s image at large

Initially, Montana served as the backdrop for the drama, but many residents who weren’t ranchers felt that the television show “Yellowstone” complicated their lives in the state before it was filmed there. The discussion about this issue ranged from Outside/In, with some arguing that the series attracted a new class of outsiders to the state and shifted its economic demographic.

Other local journalists concurred with this viewpoint, among them Johnathan Hettinger who expressed in In These Times Magazine, “When I recall Yellowstone, it will be the impact it made on our cultural landscape that stands out to me […] And I’ll remember the consequences of its presence: a Park County distorted by gentrification, where a pristine ecosystem has been transformed into a stage for role-playing and financial gain.

In Montana, not just Park County, Yellowstone has faced similar accusations of causing damage. The influx of people to or visiting Montana has brought problems even to Yellowstone Park itself. This influx has disrupted the natural rhythms and patterns of the ecosystem and its wildlife inhabitants. Although it’s debatable whether “Yellowstone” played a significant role in these issues, there’s no denying that by boosting Montana’s tourism appeal, it has undeniably had a detrimental effect on the region.

2025-06-01 22:31