Controversies
Controversies tied to this brand in public sources. A listing is not a finding of fault.
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2026
Writer sues Taylor Sheridan and studios over Yellowstone idea
Lawsuit filed
TV writer Lauren J. Salkin filed a lawsuit claiming that Taylor Sheridan stole her idea for the series Yellowstone. The defendants named in the suit include Sheridan, his management company Elevate Entertainment, NBCUniversal, Paramount and others. Salkin alleges that she pitched a series titled Sovereign Nation to Sheridan's representatives between late 2016 and early 2017, and that the pitch was declined on February 1, 2017. According to the filing, Paramount greenlit Yellowstone within a month of that rejection.
Source excerpt
Salkin has claimed she presented a pilot, concept, storylines and a pitch deck for a TV series, Sovereign Nation, to Sheridan's reps at Elevate sometime between late 2016 and early 2017.
It's alleged that Paramount greenlit Yellowstone "within month," while she pointed to several examples - including story mechanisms, character functions and plot devices - to suggest there are many parallels between the ideas.
Taylor Sheridan, the mind behind Yellowstone, is being sued by a TV writer claiming he stole her idea for the hit show.