Kevin Costner’s Discomfort on Set During a Scene in Yellowstone Season 2.
Kevin Costner is a Hollywood icon known for his significant contributions to contemporary westerns, but he also has a reputation for being a bit challenging to work with. He famously clashed with Kurt Russell over their Elvis-themed crime film, “3000 Miles to Graceland.” Additionally, he departed from Taylor Sheridan’s acclaimed series “Yellowstone” prior to its finale, citing scheduling conflicts and his belief that the franchise had too many spin-offs. And let’s not forget, he’s quite particular about his food.
During an interview with Delish, celebrity chef Gabriel “Gator” Guilbeau, who served as head of craft services on Sheridan’s projects for five years before joining “Yellowstone,” revealed a funny moment from Season 2 that caught Costner off guard. In one scene, Costner’s character, homesteader John Dutton, had a genuine reaction to a plate of grilled octopus that was so authentic it led him to ad-lib an f-bomb instead of sticking to the script.
It turns out, Costner was completely grossed out by the octopus. Gator explained that in the third episode of Season 2, titled “The Reek of Desperation,” he placed a beautifully cooked plate of grilled octopus in front of Costner. He recalled, “In no way, shape, or form would he ever eat the grilled octopus. I set this big sea spider down in front of poor Kevin Costner … He gave me this look, and it was a genuine reaction that you see in the show of ‘Gator, what the h*** is that?’”
Costner’s spontaneous reaction—“What the f*** is that?”—along with his request for potatoes, added a touch of humor to the otherwise serious demeanor of his character. Gator described Costner as a classic meat-and-potatoes kind of guy, joking that before their meeting, he might have survived on canned chili and hot dogs. This no-frills diet stands in stark contrast to the sophisticated dish of grilled octopus.
Interestingly, Gator mentioned that simple desserts like bread pudding are a hit with Costner, who enjoys a sweet treat. While John Dutton’s daughter Beth (played by Kelly Reilly) might be adventurous enough to explore a Mediterranean diet, the patriarch clearly prefers his comfort food. It’s amusing to think about Costner’s strong aversion to a beautifully plated dish, especially when other actors have had to either pretend to eat or actually consume octopus on camera.
For instance, Chace Crawford from “The Boys” had to pretend to eat his octopus character, Timothy, in a scene created using CGI. On the other hand, Choi Min-sik from “Oldboy” had to eat live octopuses for his role, despite being a vegetarian and a Buddhist. He even expressed remorse for each creature he consumed, demonstrating his commitment to his craft. Would Costner ever eat four live octopuses on-screen? Probably not. For now, he seems content to stick with his cowboy staples and keep making westerns.
