Taylor Sheridan Won't Return to LA Unless It Secedes

Taylor Sheridan isn’t mincing words about his feelings on Los Angeles. The 56-year-old showrunner and writer dropped a pretty outrageous condition for ever setting foot back in the city where he built his entertainment career: it would have to secede from the Union, and he’d need to be drafted into the Army to take it back. He made the comment during his appearance on“The Bill Simmons Podcast”on Monday, June 29, and honestly, it’s hard to tell how much he’s joking.

But here’s where it gets interesting. Sheridan’s disdain for Los Angeles doesn’t extend across the board. He actually loves New York City, and he explained why in a way that felt pretty pointed. LA, in his view, is built on unstable ground—literally and figuratively. It lacks the foundation that makes other major cities resilient to whatever cultural or political winds blow through them. New York, he argued, is fundamentally stronger than any temporary force trying to shape it. Los Angeles? Not so much.

The creator of hit series like Yellowstone, Mayor of Kingstown, Tulsa King, and Landman has a track record of being unapologetically himself. After spending his first 37 years compromising as an actor, he made a deliberate choice to tell his stories his way, period. That same uncompromising streak seems to apply to where he wants to live. He’s now based in Texas, with property in Wyoming, having left the entertainment industry’s traditional headquarters behind.

What’s worth noting is that despite his gripes with LA, Sheridan actually thrived there creatively. He worked as an actor before pivoting to screenwriting, crafting acclaimed films like Sicario, Hell or High Water, and Wind River. His shift to television—culminating in Yellowstone’s eight-year run from 2018 to 2024—proved his formula worked. Paramount trusted him with resources most TV producers never get: time to shoot episodes like films, budgets for helicopters and elaborate set pieces, creative control most wouldn’t dream of.

Even so, he’s moving forward without looking back. In October 2025, news broke that Sheridan signed a major five-year overall deal with NBCUniversal beginning January 1, 2029, after his Paramount contract expires in 2028. He’ll be creating entirely new intellectual property for the company rather than recycling his existing franchises. It’s a fitting next chapter for someone who’s committed to doing things entirely his own way—geography, creative choices, and all.

Whether his LA comments are pure hyperbole or a genuine reflection of his current mindset, one thing’s clear: Taylor Sheridan’s made his peace with leaving, and he’s got plenty of other places to call home.