Taylor Sheridan, the creative force behind hit series like "Yellowstone," "Mayor of Kingstown," and "Tulsa King," has stated that he is unconcerned with critical reviews of his work and sometimes intentionally engages in "rage baiting" to provoke them. Sheridan made these remarks on "The Bill Simmons Podcast," according to Deadline.
Sheridan, who has achieved significant commercial success with his neo-Western dramas, acknowledged that critics have often targeted him with negative reviews, citing criticisms such as "underutilizing" actors or struggling to write for female characters. He responded to these critiques by saying, "The critics and me… I don’t care what they think and it annoys the s--- out of them that I don’t care. I’ll be the first to tell you that there are things that I do that rage bait them a bit, and this is one of them. F--- ‘em, honestly."
He further elaborated on his creative philosophy, emphasizing his commitment to crafting stories that resonate with a broad audience. "This is not a democracy. There’s no committee. You’re going to pay me and you’re going to give me a bunch of money and I’m going to deliver you these shows," Sheridan explained. "I’m pretty common and I’m going to tell stories that common people are going to understand. That’s most of America. You’re not going to win no Emmys with me, but I’m not trying to win Emmys. That’s not my goal. My goal is to sit somebody on their couch and move them, make them think, make them laugh, scare the s--- out of them, excite them. That’s what I want to do, because that’s what I want from a show."
Despite the critical reception, Sheridan's projects have been highly successful with viewers, with his deal with NBCUniversal reportedly valued at over $1 billion. His approach prioritizes audience engagement and emotional impact over awards and critical acclaim, a strategy that has proven financially lucrative and popular with a significant segment of the television-viewing public.