In a recent interview with Vulture, actor Lily Gladstone didn’t hold back in her criticism of certain Hollywood productions that romanticize the American western genre, specifically singling out the popular series “Yellowstone,” led by Kevin Costner.
Gladstone described “Yellowstone” as “delusional” and “deplorable” during the interview. The show, created by Taylor Sheridan and John Linson, first premiered on Paramount in 2018 and has garnered significant acclaim. Its success has spawned two spinoff series, “1883” and “1923,” which explore generations of the Dutton family, owners of a Montana cattle ranch.
The series, however, has faced criticism for its perceived political stance, with some labeling it “anti-woke” and catering to “red states.”
Despite her critique of “Yellowstone” for its mythologizing of the American West, Gladstone made it clear that she doesn’t blame Native American actors who have participated in the show. She mentioned that she herself had auditioned for roles in the series, emphasizing the limited opportunities available.
Gladstone is set to star in Martin Scorsese’s upcoming film, “Killers of the Flower Moon,” alongside Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert De Niro. The film is set in the 1920s and revolves around the murder of the Osage Nation of Oklahoma, who inhabited oil-rich lands.
In a separate interview with Variety, Gladstone praised Scorsese for collaborating closely with the Osage Nation to ensure accurate representation. She highlighted the importance of letting real communities inform the filmmaking process and noted that the film evolved significantly due to the community’s input.
“As the community warmed up to our presence, the more the community got involved with the film. It’s a different movie than the one [Scorsese] walked in to make almost entirely because of what the community had to say about how it was being made and what was being portrayed,” Gladstone remarked.
