‘Bulls**t’: Yellowstone exit sparks backlash

Yellowstone returned to screens this week but viewers’ elation quickly turned to anger after the fate of a character was finally revealed.

WARNING – Yellowstone spoilers follow

Yellowstone viewers have shared their anger after the fate of Kevin Costner’s character was revealed in the latest episode.

Hollywood star Kevin Costner had portrayed John Dutton III, the patriarch of the Dutton family since 2018, but recently sparked controversy when he walked away from the show.

Costner left Yellowstone under a cloud of rumours and accusations that he didn’t prioritise the series over his film work, which he denied.

In the first episode of the latest season, it’s revealed that Costner’s character had been shot and killed.

However, viewers didn’t get a proper chance to say goodbye, with the camera never bothering to cut to the actor’s face.

John Dutton was killed off-screen and his death was revealed in the first episode. Picture: Twitter

As a result, fans rushed to social media to lash out at the ending.

“If THAT’S how they decide to end a great character like John Dutton … THAT’S BULLS***,” one furious viewer wrote.

“So @Yellowstone already lame for killing off John Dutton. I know it was issues with getting Costner on-board. But this was so lame,” said another.

A third tweeted: “Damn. They killed John Dutton off in the first minute. That’s so freaking savage.”

While a fourth ranted: “John Dutton was a fantastic character, and despite the Kevin Costner drama, he deserved a better goodbye than Yellowstone gave him.”

“I don’t care how it’s ends now because this is some absolute bulls**t!!! The fans of this show & Kevin Costner (John Dutton) deserved way better! Taylor Sheridan I don’t know if I’ll support another of your shows!!! #Yellowstone and ratings will suffer! The laziest writing,” complained another.

Costner butted heads with the show's creator behind the scenes. Picture: Supplied.

The director of the first six episodes of the new season, Christina Voros, said that Costner’s character is still a heavily featured presence. “To say any more than that would potentially compromise all the work that went into redacting the scripts,” she told Hollywood Reporter. “But I think the reason people are wondering, ‘Is he, isn’t he? Where is he, where is he not?’ is because he is the patriarch, and his presence is an essential component to the story. John Dutton is still central.”

The show’s creator, Taylor Sheridan broke his silence about the Costner feud in June, telling the Hollywood Reporter, “My last conversation with Kevin was that he had this passion project he wanted to direct,” he said, referring to Costner’s Western movie, Horizon, which has since gone on to bomb at the box office.

Originally published as ‘Bulls**t’: Yellowstone exit sparks backlash