Imagine having the world at your feet—money, fame, the kind of career most actors would only dream of—and then, at the height of it all, walking away. Kevin Costner, who spent years cementing his legacy as John Dutton on Yellowstone, did exactly that.

His departure was a mix of financial wrangling, creative differences, and, frankly, a little bit of self-preservation. Spoilers ahead—if you’re not up to date on Yellowstone, brace yourself for a shocking revelation that has left fans and even the actor himself in disbelief.

Kevin Costner as John Dutton in Yellowstone | Credits: Paramount Spoiler Alert !!!Warning: Spoilers Ahead for Yellowstone Season 5B, Episode Nine

In what was supposed to be the thrilling return of Yellowstone, fans were hit with an emotional gut punch. The opening of the latest episode seemed to confirm the unthinkable: John Dutton, the iron-willed patriarch of the Dutton family, died.