“The critics and me… I don’t care what they think,” Taylor Sheridan told listeners on The Bill Simmons Podcast, offering blunt examples of why he sometimes courts outrage. The remarks — in which he said he will “rage bait” critics and that pleasing awards voters is not his aim — come as industry outlets report a multiyear deal with NBCUniversal that is reportedly worth more than $1 billion.
Taylor Sheridan on The Bill Simmons Podcast
On The Bill Simmons Podcast, Sheridan answered direct questions about critical pushback to his work. He framed some backlash as inevitable and, at times, useful: controversy draws attention, he argued, and attention helps his shows reach a broad audience. Sheridan’s comments were candid and occasionally profane, a tone the reporting highlighted as part of his persona as a creator who deliberately courts strong reactions.
He described narrative choices that have prompted critics — from casting to plotting — and said he accepts, even expects, that some decisions will anger commentators. The remark about structural story moves — “then I’m going to kill your husband and you’re going to have to run the oil company” — was offered as an example of a deliberate plot choice that can upset some viewers and reviewers alike.
What he meant by rage baiting
Sheridan used the phrase “rage bait” to describe moments designed to provoke critics and spark conversation. He said, in so many words, that he sometimes leans into polarizing choices: “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.” That line signals a purposeful strategy rather than accidental offense.
Viewed as an intentional tactic, rage-baiting serves several functions in Sheridan’s telling: it concentrates attention on plot developments, generates social chatter, and can translate into higher viewership. He presented it as a commercial and creative calculation — a way to prioritize mass engagement over pleasing critics or awards bodies.
Shows, reach, and the reported NBCUniversal deal
Sheridan’s commercial leverage helps explain why his remarks land beyond the culture pages. He created Yellowstone, which expanded into a broader franchise with multiple spinoffs; his recent series credits cited in reporting include Landman and Lioness. Those franchises have made his name and his shows central to conversations about what mainstream TV audiences want.
Industry reporting first noted by Deadline and repeated in outlets such as Fox News says Sheridan has negotiated a multiyear deal with NBCUniversal that is reportedly worth more than $1 billion. Those numbers have been reported by trade outlets and are presented here as reported rather than independently verified by the podcast or this article. The reported scale of the deal helps explain Sheridan’s stated confidence in prioritizing mass appeal over awards-season prestige.
Critics, awards, and his creative stance
Sheridan was explicit about awards and prestige: “You’re not going to win no Emmys with me, but I’m not trying to win Emmys. That’s not my goal.” He described his audience in populist terms — viewers he characterized as the majority — and emphasized storytelling that aims to move, entertain and provoke strong emotional responses rather than chase critical approbation.
That posture sets up an obvious tension in contemporary television culture: critics and prestige outlets often reward subtlety or innovation, while Sheridan says his remit is to create emotionally direct narratives that perform well at scale. He acknowledged and accepted the trade-off, framing it as a conscious creative choice linked to the business demands and audience expectations for his shows.
What comes next
If the reported NBCUniversal arrangement proceeds as described, Sheridan will likely continue to use his leverage to maintain creative control and to launch additional projects within and beyond the Yellowstone universe. How networks and streaming platforms weigh critical opinion versus audience reach will remain a live debate in coverage of any future projects tied to him.
Key takeaways
- Sheridan said on The Bill Simmons Podcast that he sometimes “rage bait[s]” critics and does not prioritize their approval.
- He framed his work as designed to move and entertain broad audiences rather than to win awards.
- Industry outlets report a multiyear NBCUniversal deal for Sheridan that is reportedly worth more than $1 billion; that figure is reported, not independently confirmed here.
Background
Sheridan rose to prominence with Yellowstone, a series that spawned a franchise and drew large audiences for cable and streaming. As creators who command big audiences have grown more central to studio strategies, reported deals of substantial size — and the creative terms that accompany them — have become a focal point for industry coverage.
Source attribution and reporting notes
This article draws on reporting from Fox News and Deadline. Quotes attributed to Taylor Sheridan were reported from his appearance on The Bill Simmons Podcast and summarized in those outlets. The NBCUniversal deal amount is reported by industry trade outlets and is described here as reported rather than independently confirmed.
Sources: Fox News — Taylor Sheridan says he doesn’t care what critics think; Deadline — coverage of podcast quotes and studio context.
