Taylor Sheridan Slams Critics, Insinuating They Have A Political Agenda

Taylor Sheridan is hot right now. The writer-turned-director-turned showrunner is responsible for the mega-popular “Yellowstone” and its two prequel shows, “1883” and “1923.” There is major demand for whatever he does.

However, he’s all about “Yellowstone,” which remains his crowning achievement, a series with incredible ratings and an ardent fanbase that just can’t miss any episode.

There’s been some major critical resentment towards Sheridan’s recent work. You won’t find “Yellowstone” nominated for any Emmys. Critics haven’t been any kinder, as backlash has developed over his work — in fact, of the many anti-Yellowstone thinkpieces that have popped up in recent years, this New York Times one of them, criticizing the show as “conservative” and “populist” is quite absurd.

On a recent episode of Joe Rogan’s podcast, Sheridan didn’t mince words on his opinion of critics (much thanks, Christian Toto):

There’s a lot of defiance in the way that I do it. It’s not surprising that critics hate [‘Yellowstone’] … They’re confounded by its success. They can’t get their minds around why it’s a success,” Sheridan said, referencing New York Times piece and agreeing with Rogan that “critics are less relevant today than in any time in human history.”

Here’s Rogan, puzzled by critics, and wondering why they still have a job in 2024:

I just don’t understand why [critics are] still employed. What is the purpose that they serve other than speaking to other completely disconnected, supposedly highbrow people who live in congested urban areas?

“They seem to feel a need to judge any project [by] how is it looking at the lens through today’s new ‘question morality.’ ‘What should we be making movies about?'” Sheridan said. “And you can make a s*****y movie about something they support, and they’re gonna support that movie”.

It is interesting to see Sheridan taking a stand against critics. After all, critics had originally championed his breakthrough screenplays for “Sicario” and “Hell or High Water,” but that was 7-8 years ago, things have changed since then. Sheridan is no doubt more of a marked man now, and the critical ire for the guy has definitely grown since “Yellowstone.”