**Kevin Costner Reacts to John Dutton’s Death on "Yellowstone": "I Didn’t See It Coming"**

Kevin Costner has addressed the surprising demise of his character, John Dutton, on "Yellowstone." The 69-year-old Oscar winner shared his thoughts during an appearance on SiriusXM's "The Michael Smerconish Program" on Monday, following the airing of the Season 5, Part 2 premiere on Sunday night.

"I honestly didn't know the episode aired last night," Costner revealed. "I've seen ads with my face everywhere, thinking I wasn't in this season, but I didn't realize the episode was aired. It wasn't until this morning that someone mentioned it to me."

In the episode, John Dutton is found dead from a gunshot wound, initially thought to be a suicide before it is disclosed he was murdered in a plot by lawyer Sarah Atwood, played by Dawn Olivieri, who is in an affair with Jamie Dutton, portrayed by Wes Bentley.

Costner, who had already confirmed his exit from the show after filming only the first half of the season, admitted he was unaware of how the show would handle his character's fate. "I heard rumors about it, but they're clever people. They'll figure it out," he said. "I had my ideas about possible endings back when the show was not supposed to run this long."

When asked about his reaction to John's death, Costner said, "I heard it was depicted as a suicide, which doesn't make me eager to watch it." He speculated, "They're very intelligent creators. Maybe it's a red herring."

Costner also cleared up rumors regarding his departure from "Yellowstone" for his new Western film series, "Horizon." He explained that contractually both projects could have been managed, but the scheduling was too challenging. "I didn't quit the show. There were contractual obligations, but as things changed and new terms were negotiated, I had to prioritize my commitments," he stated.

Back in May 2023, it was announced that Costner would not be returning after Season 5, Part 1, and subsequently, the show would end with Season 5. This led to speculation that the series could not move forward without him. Costner had earlier made it known that despite the tumultuous negotiations, "Yellowstone" had been a top priority for him, contrary to series creator Taylor Sheridan's suggestions.

Despite rumors of a feud with Sheridan, which Costner denounced as untrue, he officially confirmed his departure from the show in June. "Thinking about the beloved series 'Yellowstone,' it's clear I won't be able to continue with Season 5 or beyond," he shared in an Instagram video. "I loved the show, and I know you did too. It's hard to say, but I won't be returning."

Fans expressed their displeasure about how Costner's exit was handled in the premiere episode, criticizing Sheridan on social media and asserting that John Dutton deserved a more fitting conclusion.