Behind the scenes of YELLOWSTONE: the violent clash between Kevin Costner and Wes Bentley would have left Kelly Reilly in tears

The drama of Yellowstone he didn’t stop when the cameras went off. Paramount Network’s hit series, known for its explosive family feuds, power struggles and cutthroat rivalries, seemingly mirrored real-life tensions on set.

According to a new report, things got so intense between Kevin Costner AND Wes Bentley during filming that the fight almost turned physical and he left Kelly Reilly in tears.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the conflict erupted during the filming of a key scene involving John Dutton (Costner), Beth Dutton (Reilly) and Jamie Dutton (Bentley).

The script called for a tense family standoff, but disagreements over how to interpret the moment erupted. Costner, who was also the show’s executive producer, reportedly wanted Bentley to alter the scene from Taylor Sheridan’s script. Bentley forcefully pushed back, telling Costner that he had signed on to be part of Sheridan’s series, not Costner’s.

That’s when things escalated. A witness on set described what happened next:

“Kevin didn’t like this and lashed out [Bentley]. No punches were thrown, but they were in each other’s faces, pushing and shoving and getting hotter and hotter until they had to be separated.”

The outburst marked what industry insiders called a “turning point” in the already tense relationship between Costner and Sheridan. That moment not only put production on hold, but also created a visible divide on set. According to another source familiar with the incident:

“The incident with Wes was the line in the sand. Everything was different after that. Everyone loved Wes, and so, that really upset Taylor. Kevin and Taylor butted heads from there on out. It was very embarrassing.”

While Yellowstone officially ended with its fifth and final season in 2024, completely writing off Costner’s John Dutton, new behind-the-scenes revelations like this continue to paint a picture of the deep creative and personal rifts that plagued the show’s final years.

Costner’s departure did not mark the end of the turmoil. After leaving Yellowstonethe actor turned his attention to his passion project, Horizon: An American Saga.

But that venture has faced a series of problems, including disappointing box office results and multiple lawsuits over unpaid fees, breach of contract and even allegations of sexual misconduct and unsafe working conditions involving a stuntman.

For Costner, once hailed as one of Hollywood’s greatest leading men and a powerhouse behind the camera, this stretch of controversy has been a difficult chapter. What began as one of television’s biggest success stories has morphed into a cautionary tale of clashing egos and behind-the-scenes chaos, the kind of drama that would feel right at home in the world of the Dutton family.