Behind the Scenes of YELLOWSTONE: Kevin Costner’s Heated Clash With Wes Bentley Reportedly Left Kelly Reilly in Tears

The drama of Yellowstone didn’t stop when the cameras turned off. The hit Paramount Network series known for its explosive family feuds, power struggles, and ruthless rivalries apparently 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 confrontation nearly turned physical and left Kelly Reilly in tears.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the conflict erupted while filming 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 play the moment boiled over. Costner, who was also an executive producer on the show, reportedly wanted Bentley to alter the scene from Taylor Sheridan’s script. Bentley pushed back hard, telling Costner that he had signed on to be part of a Sheridan series, not a Costner one.

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

"Kevin didn't like that, and he lunged at [Bentley]. No fists were thrown, but they were in each other's faces, pushing and shoving and just getting hot until they had to be separated."

The outburst marked what insiders called a “tipping point” in the already strained relationship between Costner and Sheridan. The moment not only paused production 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 made Taylor upset. Kevin and Taylor butted heads from there on out. It got very awkward."

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

Costner’s departure wasn’t the end of the turmoil. After leaving Yellowstone, the actor turned his focus toward his passion project, Horizon: An American Saga.

But that venture has faced its own string 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 stunt performer.

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