'I've taken a beating': Kevin Costner calls 'Yellowstone' rumors 'bulls**t' as he clears air on conflict

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Kevin Costner has finally addressed the 'Yellowstone' rumors, explaining the "real truth" about the events surrounding the show, while sharing the incredible journey of his Western 'Horizon.'

In a profile published on Monday, May 13, Costner told Deadline that he could choose to say "no comment" over 'Yellowstone' rumors on his current press tour for 'Horizon: An American Saga', but he won't.

Kevin Costner finally addresses 'slings and arrows' from 'Yellowstone'

Speaking about the 'Yellowstone' drama, Costner stated that he "felt good about it the last year," and that the persistent rumors about the show "wasn’t truthful."

The actor said, "I have taken a beating from those f**king guys and I know a lot of times where it’s coming from. I just elected not to get into that."

"But if you know me well enough, I made Yellowstone the first priority, and to insinuate anything else would be wrong. I did not initiate any of those things. They did," Costner added.

"I will address it. They should have known that there was going to be an opportunity for me to say something," Costner said.

The 'Yellowstone' star further remarked, "I didn’t have to answer the slings and arrows over the last year and a half, because I’ve just been busy working. They’ve been pretty slick about keeping their hands off; nobody was ever on the record."

Costner also clarified that he had worked out a deal for seasons five, six, and seven; however, the executive branch "made another contract," which became seasons 5A and 5B, per Us Weekly.

The actor said 'Yellowstone' then was in "first position", and Costner's 'Horizon' film series could fit "into the gaps."

"They just kept moving their gaps," Costner said.

Kevin Costner refutes 'bulls**t' rumors of being too busy with 'Horizon' to be on 'Yellowstone' shoot

Rumors that Costner failed to appear on the 'Yellowstone' shoot because he was too busy with 'Horizon' were dismissed as "bulls**t."

The Hollywood veteran continued, calling his portrayal of the alleged drama "straight up."

When asked if 'Horizon' interfered with his time spent filming in 'Yellowstone', Costner responded, "That’s not true. That’s a lie. That’s not correct."

"They sent me away for seven days to go to London, to go to England during Covid, to do [promotion]. They made the contract, and they picked the days," he added.

Costner stated that he only worked "43 days" and that there were "blocks of time" during which 10 episodes were not shot.

Costner claimed to have "lived up" to the terms of his deal with 'Yellowstone.' 

The performer has portrayed John Dutton since the 2018 premiere of the 'Yellowstone' television series.

He added: "I gave them 25 of my days for this B thing in November and December [2022]. What they called 5B. The whole month of March [2023]. I didn’t shoot 5B. There was no script. And then things imploded."

It was widely speculated that the return of 'Yellowstone' was delayed due to rumored animosity between co-creator Taylor Sheridan and Costner.

The final episode of Season 5A aired in January 2023, and the remaining episodes were scheduled to air that summer but they haven't yet.

Costner claimed that he departed 'Horizon' to film 'Yellowstone' season 5B. Costner insisted that "no scripts" existed for the last few episodes, which appeared to be the main problem.

"I left exactly when they wanted, and it made it hard on me. It turns out they didn’t have the scripts for 5B. They needed four more days just to complete the first eight episodes," Costner said.

He added, "I left early to give them what they needed to have a complete eight, and I felt bad that the audience didn’t get 10."

At that point, he decided to give "a week" to 'Yellowstone.' "I really didn’t have that week to give them, but I said, I’ll do that. And then they [spun that] into, I only wanted to work a week," Costner said.

The second half of the fifth and final season of 'Yellowstone' is scheduled to air in November. Meanwhile, 'Horizon: Chapter 1' opens in theaters on June 28.