Yellowstone Star Accused Of Fraud
A star from the hit series Yellowstone is currently being investigated for fraud after she has been accused of falsifying information on medical forms.
This article is more than 2 years old
Yellowstone actor Q’orianka Kilcher is facing criminal charges for workers’ compensation fraud. As of now, the actor is facing two felony counts for allegedly collecting disability benefits despite being capable of working. The fraud charges allege she collected $96,838 after injuring her neck and shoulder when filming Dora and the Lost City of Gold. Investigators from the California Department of Insurance are claiming that Kilcher was healthy enough to work during the filming of Yellowstone the following year.
Kilcher has pleaded not guilty to the charges and her attorney has denied the allegations. The Department of Insurance continues to offer evidence to the contrary, saying that Kilcher went to the doctor a few times after her injury from Dora and the Lost City of Gold. They also claim she stopped receiving treatment and had not been responding to an inquiry from her employer’s insurance company. They also claim she reached out in October 2019 to say her pain was too severe to take jobs, leading to her being awarded temporary total disability benefits. Investigators from the department also claim that Kilcher worked on Yellowstone from July 2019 to October 2019 just before seeking treatment. They allege that Kilcher began collecting benefits five days after the Yellowstone job ended.
Kilcher’s attorney has stated that Kilcher hadn’t been deceptive throughout the process and that “Third-party doctors verified her injury and entitlement to benefits.” Her attorney also notes that she provided regular updates to the Division of Workers’ Compensation. The Yellowstone actor’s case will continue in court on August 7. Q’orianka Kilcher is best known for her work in Terrence Malick’s 2005 film The New World, where she played Pocahontas. Kilcher is also well known for her role as Kawillaka in 2009’s Princess Kaiulani. Her role in Yellowstone was her most recent appearance on TV, guest-starring in four episodes of Season 3 as Angela Blue Thunder. She also had a role in Channing Tatum’s Dog in 2022. Kilcher is currently set to star in the film Yesteryear, which is a comedy about a Native actress struggling mentally in quarantine during the COVID-19 pandemic and the Black Lives Matter movement. Kilcher also co-wrote the film with director Adam VillaSenor.
As for Yellowstone, the series recently concluded its fourth season, in which Kilcher did not appear in. The drama is created by Taylor Sheridan and John Linson and has been greenlit for a fifth season, which is set to premiere on November 13, 2022. The fifth season will be split into two installments, with seven episodes each. Yellowstone has been a surprise hit for Paramount, as the Kevin Costner-led series has drawn in a lot of viewers. It also already has one spin-off season in the books with more planned spin-offs on the way. Fans of Yellowstone are getting hit with a lot of bad news today. In addition to the allegations against Kilcher, the show was also snubbed by the Emmys. Yellowstone received zero nominations for the 2022 Emmy Awards. Stay tuned for more news on Yellowstone and Kilcher’s fraud case.
