Kevin Costner shuts down host Gayle King mid-interview

“It’s not therapy, Gayle”: Kevin Costner didn’t take too kindly to being quizzed about his controversial exit from the show Yellowstone.

Kevin Costner’s recent sit-down interview with US TV host Gayle King turned tense when the actor shut down King’s line of questioning about his exit from the series Yellowstone.

Costner, 69, announced his departure from the Western last week amid reports of behind-the-scenes feuds and demands for more money from the star.

Other reports claimed that he had clashed with series creator Taylor Sheridan.

But speaking to King in an interview on CBS Mornings on Thursday, Costner suggested he was open to returning to the show.

“I loved the show before anybody. It was Taylor and myself. The truth never changes. That love was really strong,” he told King.

‘The idea of going back, I would do that in a second if I felt that it was something that I could do, wanted to do. I would make it fit.”

Kevin Costner accused Gayle King of turning their interview into a therapy session.

King wasn’t one to let that fly, pointing out that the stories emerging about Costner’s alleged behaviour behind the scenes hadn’t been “necessarily flattering.”

“You made demands, you want to have a certain schedule, you want to shoot at a certain time, you want certain money. If it’s not that hard, why can’t the two of you be able to work it out? People would love to see that.”

But Costner quickly dismissed King’s question, shooting back: “It’s not therapy, Gayle. We’re not going to discuss this on the show really, honestly.”

“I’m a good therapist,” King joked, as Costner continued.

“I’ve conducted my life in a pretty straightforward way,” he told her.

“I’ve never missed any obligations in my entire career, so the idea is wide open for me. It just happens to be like can I fall in love with the writing, can I fall in love with the part that wants to go forward?”

Costner played rancher John Dutton for four and a half seasons in Yellowstone before he exited the series and started working on his newly-released western movie Horizon: an American Saga.

Costner recently quit Yellowstone amid reports of behind the scenes difficulties.

In a recent interview with Deadline, Costner said he “lived up” to his contract despite ongoing speculation to the contrary.

He also opened up about the series of events that led to the demise of his time on the series.

“There was no script,” he said of the problems behind the scenes. “And then things imploded. You’ve been reading one version [of the show’s issues] for a year and a half.”

Meanwhile, Costner recently shut down another rumour, this time about his personal life. After his divorce from ex Christine Baumgartner was finalised in February, speculation grew that Costner had started dating indie-folk singer Jewel.

“No, Jewel and I are friends. We’ve never gone out ever. She’s special, and I don’t want these rumours to ruin our friendship because that’s what we have. She’s special to me,” he told Howard Stern last week.