Inside Yellowstone’s Behind-the-Scenes Drama: From Kevin Costner’s Exit to Legal Battles

Taylor Sheridan’s neo-western series Yellowstone is as dramatic as they come – both on and off screen.

Located in rural Montana, Yellowstone follows the Duttons, a multigenerational ranching family struggling to maintain their way of life as they face constant battles with farmers, Indian reservations, and their own flesh and blood. The show has been a hit for the Paramount Network since its debut in 2018, garnering widespread critical acclaim and a loyal fan base. But behind the scenes, the drama was just as intense.

Feuds, legal battles and dramatic exits changed the future of the series. In February 2023, rumors began to circulate that Kevin Costner, who plays Yellowstone patriarch John Dutton, left the show to focus on his multi-part Western film series Horizon: An American Saga.

Deadline reported that the actor’s divided attention and limited shooting schedule were “a source of frustration” for Sheridan. When an agreement could not be reached between the two parties, the network announced that the second half of Season 5 would be the final installment of the series. The premiere is scheduled for November 2024, followed by two spinoff series.

Costner isn’t the only cast member to clash with Sheridan. On November 21, Sheridan’s coffee company, Bosque Ranch, filed suit against Yellowstone star Cole Hauser’s coffee company, Free Rein, for “trademark infringement, unfair competition and false advertising.” The lawsuit alleges that the Free Rein logo is “confusingly similar” to the Bosque Ranch logo.

‘Yellowstone’ cast: Everything you need to know

The drama doesn’t end there. Here’s a look at the biggest behind-the-scenes scandals that rocked the country Yellowstone franchise.

Costner left the series due to creative “issues”

Kevin Costner in ‘Yellowstone’.

Paramount Network

Speculation about Costner’s departure from Yellowstone first appeared in May 2023. Rumors suggested that he would not return after season 5 and that Matthew McConaughey would take over the lead role. Puck News reported that the actor’s long list of demands included a higher salary, a reduced shooting schedule and the right to participate in the scripts. Both Costner and Sheridan remained tight-lipped as negotiations halted filming until the network announced the end of the series.

The actor first spoke about leaving the show during a child support hearing in 2023. In his testimony, Costner said he wanted to return for the sixth season, but declined because he was offered less money than he earned in previous seasons. He also cited creative issues that contributed to his decision. Although Sheridan did not address the rumors of tension behind the scenes, he thanked Costner for John Dutton’s “symbolic and powerful” performance.

“I’m disappointed,” Sheridan said The Hollywood Reporter in June 2023. “It shortens the confinement of his character. It doesn’t change it, but it shortens it.”

In May 2024, Costner clarified his announced departure during an interview with Deadline.

“I got beat up by those fucking dudes. I did it Yellowstone first priority, and to insinuate anything else would be wrong,” he said, adding that he was “very open to coming back” for however long. “If the writing is there, I’ll be there.”

Sheridan sued Hauser’s coffee company in November 2023

Taylor Sheridan at the premiere of Paramount Pictures’ “Yellowstone” on June 11, 2018 in Hollywood, California. ; Cole Hauser attends the 80th Annual Golden Globe Awards on January 10, 2023 in Beverly Hills, California.

Presley Ann/Getty; Daniele Venturelli/WireImage

In November 2023, Sheridan’s coffee company, Bosque Ranch, sued Hauser’s coffee company, Free Rein, in the Northern District of Texas for trademark infringement, unfair competition and false advertising. The lawsuit alleges that the similarity in logos — both companies use brand marks with two overlapping letters — could confuse consumers.

The lawsuit claims, “Neither Hauser nor the defendants sought or obtained permission or authorization from Sheridan or Bosque Ranch to use a mark confusingly similar to the BR brand for nearly identical goods.”

Costner’s ex-wife said she “didn’t pressure” him to leave the show

Rich Fury/VF22/Getty

In May 2023, PEOPLE confirmed that Costner’s wife of 18 years, Christine Baumgartner, had filed for divorce. Despite the timing being so close to the announcement of Costner’s departure from YellowstoneBaumgartner claimed in court documents that she never pressured him to leave the show.

The couple married in September 2004 and have three children together: Cayden, Hayes and Grace. Costner is also the father of Annie, Lily, Joe and Liam, who he had from previous relationships. After a months-long legal battle, the couple divorced in September 2023.

Almost all YellowstoneThe biggest stars left the PaleyFest event at the last minute

Luke Grimes, Kelsey Asbille, Wes Bentley and Gil Birmingham attend Paramount’s “Yellowstone” Season 5 premiere in New York on November 3, 2022.

Roy Rochlin/WireImage

Sheridan and the show’s stars — including Costner, Hauser, Kelly Reilly, Luke Grimes, Kelsey Asbilla, Wes Bentley, Gil Birmingham and Jacki Weaver — were scheduled to attend a PaleyFest panel in Hollywood in April 2023. But when that day came, all of the original cast dropped out, and a colleague Yellowstone cast members Josh Lucas, Dawn Olivieri, Wendy Moniz and Mo Brings Plenty took their places.

A last-minute change in the panel raised eyebrows and upset ticket-paying fans. Reilly, who plays Beth Dutton on the show, responded to fans’ concerns on Instagram and said she warned event organizers in January that she wouldn’t be able to attend. None of the other cast members offered an explanation for their absences.

Q’orianka Kilcher has been charged with disability fraud

Rob Latour/Shutterstock

Q’orianka Kilcher, who plays Angela Blue Thunder on the show, was charged with two counts of workers comp insurance fraud in July 2022. The California Department of Insurance claimed she violated state law by collecting $96,838 in disability benefits while working at Yellowstone after telling her doctor she was too injured to work. Kilcher reportedly injured her neck and right shoulder while working on the set of the 2019 film. Dora and the lost city of gold.

The actress was reportedly blindsided by the allegations and maintained her innocence during the investigation. Her case was dismissed in February 2023.

Asbille’s origins have been questioned

Roy Rochlin/WireImage; Emerson Miller/Paramount/Kobal/Shutterstock

In 2017 The New York Times reported on the lack of Native American actors in Native American roles and discussed an upcoming drama film River of wind. The piece highlighted Asbille, who played a Native American woman in the film (and currently portrays Monica Dutton, a Native American woman, in Yellowstone), and identified her as a descendant of the Eastern group of Cherokee Indians.

BuzzFeed News reported that after the piece was released, actor Sonny Skyhawk contacted the state’s Office of Tribal Enrollment. The office returned the letter saying that the tribe had no record of Asbille or any evidence that she was of Cherokee descent. The actress has yet to address the allegations.

Grimes reportedly quit Real blood because he didn’t want to play an LGBTQ character

‘Yellowstone’ Luke Grimes attends the Comedy Central, Paramount Network and TV Land Summer Press Day on May 30, 2019 in West Hollywood, California.

Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty

Before becoming Kayce Dutton, Grimes played a vampire named James on HBO Real blood. However, he left the show before the final season and his character was recast, with HBO saying in a statement, “The role of James has been recast due to the creative direction of the character,” according to Party tonight.

Nelsan Ellis, who played James’ future love, Lafayette, reportedly did Sup in a 2014 interview that Grimes left as their characters were headed for romance.

“We’re all sitting around saying, ‘You quit because… really?’ Ellis claimed. “I’m just… I’m over it. You quit because you don’t want to play a gay role? Like that’s… You know what? I’ll stop talking.”

However, Grimes’ rep said in a statement that he left the show due to “scheduling conflicts.”

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Source: HIS Education