Yellowstone Star Luke Grimes Faces Backlash After Moving to Montana

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Luke Grimes, who played Kayce Dutton on the hit TV show Yellowstone, recently revealed on The Joe Rogan Experience that he has faced some backlash from locals after moving from Los Angeles to Montana's Bitterroot Valley. Grimes said he can no longer go to bars in the area because "whatever that one idiot is is at the bar and he can't wait to start a fight with me." The interview highlighted Montana's complicated relationship with outsiders and the "Yellowstone effect" of the show making the state look like an idyllic destination, leading to an influx of new residents that has strained some local communities.

Why it matters

Grimes' experience sheds light on the tensions that can arise when Hollywood celebrities and other outsiders move to small-town Montana, which has a long history of locals being protective of their communities. The "Yellowstone effect" has brought increased tourism and new residents to the state, leading to concerns about rising housing costs and changes to the local way of life.

The details

According to Grimes, some Montana locals have targeted him since he moved to the Bitterroot Valley, with incidents of people writing "GO BACK" on cars with California license plates. The actor said he can no longer go to bars in the area because of confrontations with locals. Grimes was on Rogan's podcast to promote his new series Marshals, another Montana-set story related to his Yellowstone character.

• Grimes recently appeared on The Joe Rogan Experience podcast to discuss his move to Montana.
• Grimes has been living in the Bitterroot Valley full-time with his family for a couple of years now after filming Yellowstone in the area.

What they’re saying

What’s next

Grimes is continuing to promote his new series Marshals, which is also set in Montana, as he navigates his new life in the Bitterroot Valley.