In the world of ‘conscious uncoupling’ and joint statements via the notes app, celebrity splits have significantly changed in the last few years.
More and more couples are choosing to put their best foot forward and depict a united front when dealing with separation. Fewer and fewer details are made public for fans, an emphasis on healthy co-parenting is almost guaranteed and many of the messy rumours are completely ignored – with no statement or acknowledgement given.
As more celebs take on the ‘mature’ route when dealing with splits, it makes the more messy relationship breakdowns all the more shocking. And as more details emerge of Kevin Costner and Christine Baumgartner’s divorce – it’s clear things are heated.
News first broke in May 2023 that Yellowstone actor Kevin Costner, 68, and Christine Baumgartner, 49, were filing for divorce after 18 years of marriage.
Christine Baumgartner filed for divorce, citing “irreconcilable differences.” The couple had been together for over two decades and have three children together, with both parents asking for joint custody.Now, just over six months since the pair called it quits, Kevin has stepped out with his new romance, country singer Jewel.
Rumours of Kevin and Jewel’s new romance came after the pair were photographed indulging in some PDA while visiting Richard Branson’s Necker Island, with TMZ sharing a selection of snaps of Jewel sitting on Kevin’s lap while he has his hands around her waist.
Following the release of the images, sources speaking to the Daily Mail revealed that the new couple’s relationship dynamic is casual, adding that the pair are just “having fun.”
“Jewel likes herself a man’s man and she is all about Kevin’s country-western vibe,” the source told the publication.
Speaking on the origins of their new romance, the source claimed that “Richard [Branson] is 100% responsible for Kevin and Jewel hooking up. She has been a friend of Branson’s for years and he has been a close friend of Kevin’s since the 1990s.”
“Richard invited Jewel to hold her charity fundraiser on Necker [Island] and, honestly, the hookup happened organically. They hit it off well and Jewel seems to be happy about it.”
News of Kevin’s new romance comes two months after his divorce from Christine was finalised in October 2023.
Soon after news of their separation broke, media publications quickly began reporting that things weren’t quite civil between the former couple, with reports that, according to court documents, Kevin was now “homeless” after his estranged wife refused to move out of their family home.
Their prenuptial agreement gave Christine 30 days to vacate the $145 million property they shared, but Kevin solely owns, following her divorce filing on May 1. In early September, Christine vacated their former family home, with People revealing that the 49-year-old had moved into a $40,000 per month rental property with her three children.
In court documents obtained by the Daily Mail, Kevin’s lawyers claimed that he no longer had a home to return to after he wrapped filming for a project.
“This is surprising and disheartening to me,” Daily Mail quoted Costner as saying in court documents.
“I was married once before and, upon separation, found myself without home base and unable to live in my own home. I never wanted this to happen again.”
In court documents obtained by Page Six, Kevin also alleged that Christine spent US $95,000 of his money “without prior notice” to him on lawyers and a forensic accountant.
PEOPLE also obtained court documents that revealed Christine is pursuing $248,000 a month in child support from her ex-husband to help raise their three children: Cayden Wyatt, 16, Hayes Logan, 14, and Grace Avery, 13.
Baumgartner reportedly claimed the total requested was “less than the amount needed to maintain the children in their accustomed lifestyle.”
The report also revealed she wanted the actor to pay for their children’s private-school tuition, extracurricular activities, sports and health care expenses.
Court filings obtained by PEOPLE also revealed that Christine was not happy with how Kevin handled telling their children about their divorce. She alleged he told them during a brief Zoom call while on location in Las Vegas.
“The children’s welfare has always been my highest priority, and I was concerned they would find out about the divorce before Kevin and I could tell them. It was important for me that we tell the children in person and together,” Christine alleged in the documents.
Christine said she expressed her concerns with Kevin that the kids would hear the news through an “outside source,” shared “several articles about the importance of talking to the children as a united front” and believed they would go about breaking the news to their children together.
“He disregarded my proposal to do what I felt was right based on research and my relationship with the children. Instead, he insisted that he had the right to tell them that we were getting divorced ‘first’ and tell them privately ‘without me present,'” she continued in her claims.
“After a 24-year relationship, from his hotel room in Las Vegas, Kevin told our three children that we were getting divorced over a 10-minute Zoom call without me present…I am still confused by his motivation to do this via a very short Zoom session, especially since he was planning on being home five days later. He also could have easily come home from Las Vegas to have the conversation in person.”
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