25 January 2024 , 14:27
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Kevin Costner had "strong suspicions" that his ex-wife Christine Baumgartner may have a relationship with Josh Connor before the pair went public with their romance, a source has claimed.
The 69-year-old actor had suspected that "something was going on between Christine and Josh" and their close bond was "a real elephant in the room", the unnamed insider added. Connor, 49, is a divorced father-of-three who became legally single a year ago.
Kevin and Christine went their separate ways when she filed for divorce in May 2023 after 19 years of marriage. The couple then spent months battling out the terms of their divorce in court.
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Kevin and Christine divorced after 19 years of marriage (Getty Images for Elton John AIDS Foundation)
Christine filed for divorce in May 2023 (Patrick McMullan via Getty Images)While Christine was spotted with her new partner last summer before she finalised her divorce from Kevin, she insisted their relationship turned romantic "relatively recently", the insider told US Weekly. According to court documents seen by the outlet, the actor questioned whether his ex-wife was faithful during their marriage after she requested documents about his finances.
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They read: "Respondent has no responsive documents for ‘extramarital romantic relationships’ in which he engaged because he engaged in none." Costner's attorneys also noted that the actor "does not know for a fact if [Christine] engaged in any ‘extramarital romantic relationships’ before separation and, if so, whether she spent any of his money or charged any expenses in furtherance of her affair(s) on credit cards he paid."
Christine, 49, also insisted she and her new partner were just friends when they were photographed on a trip to Hawaii. She added Connor had loaned her $20,000 (£15,700) - and she later returned $10,000 (£7,850) to him.
Last month, Christine reportedly told a friend it was "bittersweet" to see her ex-husband dating someone else after he was photographed getting up close and personal with singer Jewel, 49, as TMZ revealed that the pair are dating. The pictures showed them cosied up on a trip to Richard Branson's Necker Island in the British Virgin Islands. Christine has found comfort in his new love interest not being a 'fame seeking bimbo' but someone 'down to earth' according to the report.
The insider told the Daily Mail: "Christine said she's not surprised that Kevin has moved on so quickly, but he didn't need to make it so obvious by wrapping his arms around her. She said she's happy for him, but it still isn't a great feeling seeing your ex with someone new."
According to the friend, Christine said she was relieved that her ex is not dating a "fame seeker" as Jewel seems like a "down-to-earth person". The friend added: "She said she's happy for him, but it still isn't a great feeling seeing your ex with someone new."