Yellowstone fans are still fuming over Kevin Costner’s dramatic exit, but one thing’s clear—this isn’t a show for fairy tale endings. The series thrives on chaos, betrayal, and enough family drama to make Thanksgiving dinner feel tame. Now, the director chimed in on the outrage surrounding Costner’s fate.
Turns out, the gut-punch moments we all scream about are the whole point. While Costner’s departure hurt like a bull’s kick, it seems the show’s relentless heartbreak was never meant to go down easy.
Yellowstone’s Big Shocker: Why Kevin Costner’s Fate Was Meant to Sting
Alright, Yellowstone fans, let’s rip the Band-Aid off. The season 5B premiere on Nov. 10 wasted no time dropping a bombshell—John Dutton, the man, the myth, the ranching legend, was killed off in an offscreen shooting. Fans? Absolutely not OK.
But according to director Christina Voros, that gut punch was kind of the whole idea. Talking to The Hollywood Reporter, Voros—who’s directed across the Yellowstone universe—finally broke her silence on the backlash. She alluded,
I was reading Twitter, and it’s strange the number of people who seemed upset that John Dutton was killed off, despite knowing that Kevin [Costner] himself said he wasn’t coming back to the show […]
There were a lot of people who were outraged that John was killed — and you’re supposed to be outraged he was killed. The characters are outraged that he’s killed. So in a strange way, it is the point. You are not supposed to be OK with it.
That said, Kevin Costner’s exit wasn’t exactly a state secret. Between his departure due to creative differences and Yellowstone’s history of high-stakes chaos, tragedy was always on the cards. Still, fans clung to hope—because, of course, it’s John Dutton!
Fan reactions on social media erupted, but Voros wasn’t surprised. That sting? That’s the Yellowstone brand. Like it or not, John’s exit did exactly what it was meant to—shake things up and leave us reeling. Classic Dutton drama, through and through.
Lazy Writing or Rushed Farewell? Fans Slam Yellowstone for Kevin Costner’s Offscreen Exit
After Yellowstone killed off Costner’s legendary character in an offscreen twist, viewers lit up social media, calling it lazy writing. Fans called out the makers, demanding John Dutton deserved to go out like a gladiator, not a victim. Some said the show was already boring—this just sealed it. And yep, fans took the hit.
John Dutton deserved to go out like a gladiator, not a victim. Completely undoes the series. I’m not a fan at all how #Yellowstone handled Costner’s departure. pic.twitter.com/mECsM6gluf
— @Matthew Betley (@MatthewBetley) November 11, 2024
They had two years to get this right. Just lazy writing. Sheridan has already moved on
— KLyles (@AkaAnnie22) November 11, 2024
I agree it sounds like it was an untenable situation, but unfortunately, it’s always the fans that pay the price when this happens.
— @Matthew Betley (@MatthewBetley) November 11, 2024
It had already become a pretty boring show with the 20 minute musical montages of Cowboys slowly doing their work and standing around and eating in the middle of every episode. This was just the final nail in the coffin.
— Philly Minga (@PhillyMinga) November 11, 2024
I actually watched it, and it wasn’t half-bad until the last five minutes, which was a painful montage.
— @Matthew Betley (@MatthewBetley) November 11, 2024
This is on Costner as much as anyone else though. He has no idea how bad his rift with Sheridan hurt this episode and the fans!
— BB (@UTD_fan_4_ever) November 11, 2024
For a character as iconic as John Dutton, fans wanted fireworks, not a whimper. And now, they’re left picking up the pieces of what feels like a rushed farewell. Once again, it’s the fans paying for the fallout.
Watch Yellowstone on Peacock & Apple TV.
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