CNN
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Kevin Costner has left “Yellowstone” and some viewers aren’t happy about it.

The actor, who played patriarch John Dutton in the hit series, responded to some criticism of his character’s departure.

“Fans have a voice in things and choose to follow things,” Costner told E! during the weekend.

Costner said he previously pitched “Yellowstone” about how to conclude its storyline, but producers determined the exact details of his character’s departure due to a gunshot wound.

“They do what they want to do,” he said. “That’s fine with me.”

Costner announced on social media in June that he would not be returning to “Yellowstone.”

“I just want to let you know that after this long year and a half of working on Horizon and doing all the things that are necessary, and thinking about ‘Yellowstone,’ that beloved series that I love, that I know you love ,” Costner said at the time. “I just realized I can’t continue season 5b or the future.”

Instead, he had been working on a multi-part film series, the first of which, “Horizon: An American Saga,” was released this summer.

A planned second episode that has been postponed.

Costner told E! he’s still working on what will happen next.

“I’m going to try to find out,” he said, laughing. “I make these things, I’ll figure out how to get it to an audience.”