Kevin Costner is finally, albeit reluctantly, shedding light on his "Yellowstone" exit.

Costner, who portrayed Montana rancher John Dutton III in the first four and a half seasons of the Emmy-nominated drama, officially announced in June on Instagram that he would not be returning for Season 5, Part 2, of the series — more than a year after reports of his departure first dropped.

Now, as the Golden Globe-winning actor-director promotes "Horizon" — his newly released western epic over 30 years in the making — he's being pressed about the details of his widely mourned "Yellowstone" exit. That includes whether clashes with the series' creator and director Taylor Sheridan caused it.

"People say this about the two of you: both big egos, both very powerful, both at the top of their game, and that right now, maybe the two of you are playing a game of 'Whose is bigger?'" "CBS Mornings" host Gayle King said to Costner on Thursday. "Do you see it that way?"

Costner countered, saying that he "loved the show before anybody" and that, in the beginning, "It was Taylor and myself."

But King pressed further, asking if the collaborators were on good terms. "Why can't the two of you be able to work it out?" she said.

"Well, this isn't therapy, Gayle. We're not going to discuss this on the show," Costner fired back. "I've conducted my life in a pretty straightforward way. I've never missed any obligations in my entire career."

As for the true reason for his departure, Costner suggested that the writing on the show had ceased to move him. It was a stance he had taken in his recent People cover story: "The scripts weren't there."

Earlier in the "CBS Mornings" interview, Costner also disputed claims made last year by Sheridan that "Horizon" became the actor's "priority" and that he wanted to "shift focus."

"I sure hope (the movie is) worth it — and that it's a good one," Sheridan told the Hollywood Reporter.

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