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Kevin Costner’s departure from “Yellowstone” has significantly impacted his standing in Hollywood circles. For nearly five years, Costner was the face of “Yellowstone,” portraying John Dutton, the head of the Dutton family. However, in June 2024, he decided to part ways with the popular western series to focus on his film project, “Horizon.” Costner expressed his decision candidly, stating, “I just want to reach out and let you know that after this long year and a half of working on Horizon and doing all the things that’s required. Thinking about Yellowstone, that beloved series that I love, that I know you love. I just realized that I’m not going to be able to continue, season five or into the future,” as reported by The Guardian.
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Since stepping away from “Yellowstone,” Costner has found himself embroiled in a whirlwind of controversy. Rumors swirled that his scheduling conflicts were the root cause of Season 5’s delayed release. In a May 2024 interview with Deadline, Costner addressed these claims, hinting that a return to the series wasn’t entirely out of the question. “If they’ve got so many other things going on, maybe this circles back and it’s a really cool two seasons,” he remarked. “Or end it, if the writing’s there and I’m happy with it. I’m open to that.” Despite his openness, Costner expressed frustration over the lack of support from his peers amidst the rumor mill. “I took a beating over these guys not speaking up for me and allowing crazy stories to come out,” he lamented, marking a downturn in his once-illustrious reputation.
Reports have surfaced portraying a less flattering side of Costner, further tarnishing his image. An October 2025 article by The Hollywood Reporter highlighted an alleged near-physical altercation between Costner and his “Yellowstone” co-star Wes Bentley, sparked by creative disagreements on set. An insider recounted that “Kevin didn’t like that, and he lunged at him,” though no punches were thrown. This incident added to a long list of accusations claiming that Costner can be difficult to work with.
As of yet, Costner has remained silent on these recent criticisms. However, if past patterns hold true, he is likely to issue a response eventually. Meanwhile, Costner is reportedly grappling with the realization that his former “Yellowstone” colleagues are thriving post-departure without him. A source told Radar in January 2025, “Kevin’s tried to put a brave face on it, but there’s no denying this real lack of love is bothering him. He’s been stabbed in the heart time and time again. The people on the show he thought were going to be loyal, like Hauser and Reilly, are preoccupied with their own success.” It’s a challenging period for the veteran actor, who once stood as a pillar of the show’s success.
Is Kevin Costner hard to work with?
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According to some reports, Kevin Costner has quite the shady side, and it isn’t doing his reputation any favors. As The Hollywood Reporter printed in October 2025, he nearly got into a physical altercation with his “Yellowstone” cast member Wes Bentley when tensions boiled over on set after Bentley rebuffed Costner’s creative input on a scene. “Kevin didn’t like that, and he lunged at him,” shared an insider. “No fists were thrown, but they were in each other’s faces, pushing and shoving and just getting hot until they had to be separated.” The same piece detailed decades’ worth of supposed bad deeds on Costner’s end — including the widely-held belief that he was difficult to collaborate with.
As of this writing, Costner has yet to comment on the latest round of Costner-bashing, but if history truly does repeat itself, he’ll eventually put out a statement. Unfortunately, he also reportedly had a hard time realizing that his former “Yellowstone” co-stars weren’t exactly in mourning following his exit. In fact, they were back and doing better than ever. “Kevin’s tried to put a brave face on it, but there’s no denying this real lack of love is bothering him,” shared a source with Radar in January 2025. “He’s been stabbed in the heart time and time again. The people on the show he thought were going to be loyal, like Hauser and Reilly, are preoccupied with their own success.” Ouch!
