Yellowstone actor Denim Richards has spoken out after angry fans slammed the Paramount Network show for killing off his character Colby Mayfield in shocking season 5B scenes.
Colby was tragically killed after getting kicked in the chest by a massive wild stallion that they had been trying to break for the past few episodes.
His death is the third to rock the series, and followed the murder of Sarah Atwood (Dawn Olivieri), who hired the company that slayed Montana governor John Dutton (Kevin Costner).
While Sarah’s death was connected to John’s – since she hired the sinister company that made his death look like a suicide – Colby’s passing was accidental, which made it all the more devastating for viewers.
Naturally, fans didn’t waste any time in hitting out at the show – and creator Taylor Sheridan – for killing off a minor but beloved character, but Denim reasoned with viewers as he addressed his character’s fate in a new interview.
He said: ‘There’s definitely been a tremendous outpouring.
‘I haven’t had the opportunity to read everything, but I’ve read a lot. And I definitely get it, that it’s hard.
‘I think everyone has their own way they see the show going.
‘People waited 18 months for Yellowstone to come back, and I think some people were hoping to have more of what they’ve been used to — and it’s not going in that direction for a lot of them! That’s part of it.’
Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, Denim added that the strong emotional reaction to Colby’s death is testament to Yellowstone’s great writing.
‘I think at the end of all of it, to be emotionally moved by something that is happening on television is a testament to the great writing, great atmosphere and great characters,’ he said.
‘So once we get passed the emotional state, I think the job is that the death moved people.
‘As an artist, that’s all I could hope for, that if you do get killed off, people care that your character goes.
‘But I definitely appreciate and I’m definitely overwhelmed by the amazing emotional response.’
Colby’s death took viewers by surprise, especially as the episode began with the cowboy talking on the phone with his girlfriend Teeter (Jennifer Landon), who was in Texas at the 6666 Ranch.
They both admitted for the first time that they loved each other in the brief phone conversation before they both got back to work.
In recent episodes, the ranch hands had been trying to tame a wild stallion, but it was proving to be so unruly they didn’t know what to do with him.
In scenes that aired on Sunday night, Carter (Finn Little) was cleaning out the stalls and noticed this wild horse spilled his water.
When the young Carter went to return his refilled water bucket, the horse knocked him down and Colby heard his cries for help.
Colby instructed him to run out of the stall when he sprinted in, trying to distract the horse, but it ended up kicking Colby in his chest with his hind legs, and then started stomping on him with his front hooves.
Carter quickly ran to fetch a rifle and put down the horse, with the gunshot bringing Rip (Cole Hauser) and Lloyd to the barn, where they found Colby dead.
Fans didn’t hold back their upset online and cursed Taylor for writing Colby out.
Taking to X, one blasted: ‘F**! Everyone is being killed off!’ while another said: ‘Didn’t see that coming.’
Echoing a similar sentiment, another wrote: ‘I am devastated right now! What the actual hell Taylor Sheridan!’
A fourth raged: ‘What in the absolute f**k #YellowstoneTV?!?!? UNNECESSARY!!!!!! #ColbyAndTeeterForever’