Montana Woman Calls Out Shaboozey For Trespassing On Her Family’s Property For A Photoshoot: “This Land Is Not Open To The Public”

Getting called out.

Shaboozey has found himself in some hot water after a Montana land owner stepped forward to share that Shaboozey and his team trespassed on her family’s land for a photoshoot.

Last week, Shaboozey shared images of himself under the Montana Big Sky, in a social media post showcasing some of the land’s beauty. The “Blind Twice” singer was posed against a backdrop of green meadows and rolling fields, with mountainous scenery behind him.

In all honesty, it’s a stunning shot of the singer.

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A post shared by Boozey (@shaboozey)

A few days after the post went up on social media, people began to pinpoint where in Montana this shot was taken, and a significant issue was revealed.

Shaboozey’s shoot was carried out on private property, and the owners did not give Shaboozey prior approval to use their land. On July 24th, Lexie Kottwitz, an owner of the property, shared an open letter to Shaboozey detailing her and her family’s distaste for him using their property for his photoshoot. 

“Shaboozey,

I am writing you in regards to a recent and unexpected visit that you made to our family’s private property in Montana. While we understand the appeal and beauty of the land out here —the wild skies, the untouched nature, the deep quiet —we were taken aback to learn that you crossed into our private acreage without permission, on social media, no less.

Here in Montana, the land is not just land. It’s a way of life. Generations of families have cared for it, protected it, and drawn strength and identity from it. With that comes a deep respect for personal property and the understanding that stewardship and boundaries go hand in hand.

Trespassing, whether by a stranger or a celebrity, goes against those values. Our family has worked hard to preserve this space, not just for ourselves but for our community and our heritage. That respect is something we extend to others, and it’s something we respect in return. 

I trust this incident was not malicious, but it’s important you know that this land is not open to the public for exploration, no matter how scenic or symbolic it may seem from the outside. 

Montana’s beauty is rooted not only in its wilderness, but also in the integrity of its people —people who value honesty, respect, and the understanding that this land deserves our care and reverence. 

We welcome you to our big, beautiful state that prides itself on having acres upon acres of public land to enjoy. We also welcome you to build relationships with the folks that reside here; we are pretty friendly people. A phone call or door knock would have been the right thing to do. 

Please respect our values moving forward.” 

Another co-owner of the land that he trespassed on shared some more of her thoughts in the comments section of the post:

“#1. Montana rule: Do not trespass on private property. Ask first, we probably would have welcomed you, especially since we like your music and appreciate artistic talent.

Montana is heaven, and it isn’t: It’s poverty with a view, it’s hard working folks trying to make ends meet, minimal affordable housing and high property taxes, especially after Yellowstone show, covid, climate related factors elsewhere, and outsiders promoting our beautiful state which all contributed to an unprecedented influx of folks moving in, bringing their non-Montana ways, and not opening their eyes how to act and be on our landscape and with locals.

It’s cold, it’s hot, can be smokey, it’s achingly beautiful, hard, intense, it’s sacred and home to 12 indigenous tribes, upon whose ancestral homeland we all live and many of us try to honor, steward, acknowledge, and be grateful for each day. If you visit or move here, please don’t just take and make Montana fit your needs and values. Come with humility, respect, and awareness of this beautiful land, the waters, plants, animals, and its local people. Most of us can be neighborly and generous if you come with a reciprocal community spirit. Thank you.

(Co-owner of the land you disrespectfully appropriated for your own publicity needs and gain)”

Lexie Kottwitz responded to a comment on July 25th, stating that they had not heard from Shaboozey or his team since calling him out for his actions. Since Lexie’s post has gone up on Facebook, she and a few of the other women tagged in the post have begun a conversation on the Instagram post, further calling him out.

The trespassing is unacceptable, and assuming that the image of Shaboozey smoking a cigarette near a hay bale is also on their land, that’s even worse. If cigarette ash flew onto that hay, it could have all gone up in flames, burning this family’s food supply for their animals, the hours they spent harvesting the crop, or it could have burned up their income if they sold it to other local farmers and ranchers.

Shaboozey owes these folks a hefty apology…The post Montana Woman Calls Out Shaboozey For Trespassing On Her Family’s Property For A Photoshoot: “This Land Is Not Open To The Public” first appeared on Whiskey Riff.