SPOILER ALERT: Karl Stefanovic becomes visibly emotional over new season of cult TV show Yellowstone

Karl Stefanovic has revealed his emotional response to the shocking death of Kevin Costner’s beloved character, John Dutton III, in the hit series Yellowstone.

Speaking on Today, the 50-year-old presenter didn’t hold back as he shared how the gut-wrenching opening moments of the series’ final episodes left him grieving, and fuming over the producers’ decision to kill off the iconic patriarch.

‘Look, I still get a little bit emotional about John Dutton not being [there],’ Karl admitted.

‘I don’t want to ruin it for anyone, but he basically carks it in the first 30 seconds of this final [season]. And I got very emotional because ever since—I think it was almost frame one of the entire series—there was a horse’s head, and there was John Dutton.’

Describing the death as ‘brutal,’ Karl confessed he initially struggled to process the shocking turn of events, even feeling anger toward the show’s creators.

‘I was angry at the producers for some time. I’ll be honest. I was ticked off,’ he said candidly.

Speaking on Today , the 50-year-old presenter didn’t hold back as he shared how the gut-wrenching opening moments of the series’ final episodes left him grieving, and fuming, over the producers’ decision to kill off the iconic patriarch. Pictured: Kevin Costner as John Dutton III

‘I love Kevin Costner more than anything in the world. I love him as an actor, and I love him in this series.’

Despite his initial outrage, Karl explained that he eventually found closure after bingeing the following episodes and organising his own farewell celebration for the character.

‘For 24 hours I grieved,’ he admitted.

‘And then I got right back on that horse, as I know John Dutton would. When you’ve got Rip slinging into town, and the show moves forward… the chaos, the mayhem that is the family—it just rolls on like any great series.’

Karl reassured fans of the blockbuster series, which streams on Stan, that the plot surrounding John Dutton’s death is as compelling as ever.

With the Dutton family descending into revolt the Channel Nine star promised the show’s final moments would deliver an unmissable spectacle.

‘This war is just beginning,’ he teased. ‘The only thing left to do is to kill as much as you can before they kill you.’

Karl’s passionate reaction underscores just how much Yellowstone has captured the hearts of fans worldwide.

Costner’s portrayal of John Dutton III has become one of the most memorable roles of his career, making his character’s exit a bittersweet moment for die-hard viewers.

Yellowstone’s final instalment, season five, is available to stream now, only on Stan

‘I don’t want to ruin it for anyone, but he basically carks it in the first 30 seconds of this final [season]. And I got very emotional because ever since—I think it was almost frame one of the entire series—there was a horse’s head, and there was John Dutton,’ he explained