Taylor Sheridan’s Western drama Yellowstone has become iconic for many reasons, from its memorable characters to the drama surrounding its prolific creator and stars. The final season of the show was overshadowed by tensions between Sheridan and Kevin Costner, who departed ahead of its conclusion.
However, Costner was not the only cast member to have disputes with the show creator. Cole Hauser also had some behind-the-scenes issues with Sheridan, which escalated into a physical fight and later a lawsuit involving their coffee brands.
Yellowstone stars Taylor Sheridan and Cole Hauser once got into a physical fight
Taylor Sheridan and Cole Hauser, who played the role of fan-favorite Rip Wheeler in the neo-Western drama Yellowstone, have had a complicated relationship over the years.
Sheridan appeared to have hit the mark with casting choice with Hauser as Rip Wheeler. The character is known for his penchant for fights and doesn’t hesitate to opt for violence to protect the ranch and his people, something that Hauser closely resonated with.
In a previous interview with Men’s Journal, the actor shared his own views on fighting, saying, “I don’t think there’s anything wrong with fighting,” as he explained it as an unfiltered way to connect.
Sometimes I’m just tired of words, so let’s beat the sh*t out of each other. Maybe at the end of it, you’ll buy me a Guinness, and I’ll buy you a Bushmills, and we’ll be done. It’s kind of what guys do.
And as per the outlet, the Yellowstone creator shared a similar perspective, even revealing that the second time they met, they also got into a fight. Surprisingly, it seemed to strengthen their understanding of each other, as Sheridan would use Hauser’s “early life” experiences to elicit emotional depth in his performance on camera.
However, their physical altercation during the second meeting was not the only disagreement between them, as the two would later get involved in a legal battle over their coffee brands.
Taylor Sheridan sued Cole Hauser’s coffee brands over copyright infringement
A lot transpired between the Yellowstone creator Taylor Sheridan and the show’s cast amid the release of the two-part final season, including growing tensions with Kevin Costner and the legal battle between Sheridan and Cole Hauser over their coffee brands.
In 2023, Sheridan filed a lawsuit against Hauser’s coffee company, Free Rein Coffee, in a Texas federal court. The lawsuit accused Free Rein of “trademark infringement, unfair competition and false advertising,” as per The Hollywood Reporter.
Sheridan’s ranch claimed that Free Rein’s logo is “confusingly similar to the BR Brand for virtually identical goods.” The logo for Bosque Ranch features an intertwined ‘BR’ while Free Rein’s logo uses an intertwined ‘FR.’
Notably, Hauser launched Free Rein Coffee a few months after Sheridan introduced Bosque Ranch Coffee in June 2023.
The lawsuit demanded Hauser’s company to “destroy all products, marketing, and promotional materials” and sought a jury trial along with compensation for lost profits and any revenue Hauser’s brand had generated.
What happened to Taylor Sheridan and Cole Hauser’s legal dispute?
The legal drama between the Yellowstone stars ended almost as quickly as it began, with Taylor Sheridan eventually dropping the lawsuit. As per mrt.com, Sheridan’s legal team requested the case be dismissed just a month later.
The request read,
Plaintiff, BOSQUE RANCH HEADQUARTERS, LLC, hereby gives notice of its voluntary dismissal of its claims against Defendants CODE OF THE WEST, LLC and FREE REIN LLC, doing business as FREE REIN COFFEE COMPANY.
While neither Sheridan nor Hauser has publicly addressed their brief legal dispute, it does not appear to have caused any lasting tension between them, unlike the high-profile fallout between Sheridan and Kevin Costner.
Hauser’s Rip Wheeler continued to hold a prominent present throughout the final season and is also set to reprise his beloved role in a new spin-off alongside Kelly Reilly.
Yellowstone is available to watch on Peacock.
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