Alright, folks, let's dive into the drama unfolding between Yellowstone star Kevin Costner and his wife of 18 years, Christine Baumgartner. Picture this: they've been together long enough to raise three school-age kids, build a life, and purchase an impressive estate in Carpinteria, California. But now, they're at odds over who gets to keep living in that beautiful home. And guess what? There's even talk of a handsome video game mogul named Daniel Starr, who may have complicated things between them. Let's break it down.
Kevin Costner Fights to Stay in the Family Home
Kevin Costner, at 68 years old, is no stranger to the complexities of life and relationships. He recently made a move in court to request that Christine, who filed for divorce in May, vacate the family home. Now, here's the kicker: Kevin is willing to shell out over $1 million to help her find a new place for herself and their three kids, as outlined in their prenuptial agreement. On top of that, he's offering her a hefty child support package of $30,000 a month and $10,000 toward moving expenses — but only if she agrees to leave the house.
Kevin's Painful Past Experience
Kevin isn't just being stubborn; he has a history lesson from his first marriage. Back then, during the separation, he found himself without a home base and unable to live in his own house. That experience was tough, and he swore it wouldn't happen again. In court documents obtained by Closer Weekly, Kevin stated, "I never wanted this to happen again." It's clear that Kevin is determined to avoid reliving those difficult days.
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Christine Stands Her Ground
On the other side, Christine isn't budging. She believes Kevin should be the one to leave. According to a friend, "The reason she hasn’t left the home is because she feels he should be the one to leave." Christine's refusal to move out is a tactic to show Kevin that she's in charge. She's standing her ground, and it's becoming a pivotal point in their legal battle.
The Role of Work and Friendship in the Breakdown
Kevin's work commitments have often been blamed for the breakdown of his marriage. He's got a new drama, Horizon, set to premiere in the fall, and that requires a lot of his attention. An insider explains, "Christine wanted Kevin to commit more time to her and the children. She was tired of waiting." Kevin, however, feels blindsided by her legal filing. "Kevin thinks that Christine abandoned him and didn’t give him the opportunity to fix their marriage before calling it quits," says the friend.
Kevin and Christine have faced rocky patches in the past, but Kevin had hoped they could work through this one. "He truly didn’t want it to come to this," the friend adds. Christine's refusal to leave the estate, which Kevin purchased long before their marriage, has deeply hurt him. Kevin's legal team noted, "Christine has taken the position that she will not move out of Kevin’s separate property residence unless and until Kevin agrees to various financial demands."
The Daniel Starr Situation
Just before Christine filed for divorce, there was an incident involving tech mogul Daniel Starr, who was renting their $64,000-a-month guesthouse on the property. Kevin reportedly had an altercation with Daniel, who had gotten too friendly with Christine. According to a source, Christine "would come into his house almost daily," but Daniel insists he was respectful and didn't cross any lines. Despite this, the situation became tense. Christine wasn't pleased with Kevin's attitude toward their friendship and texted him, demanding that Daniel leave. Kevin, upon hearing this, also demanded that Daniel vacate the premises. Kevin feels that Christine was inappropriate in leaning on others during this time.
The Impact on the Children
As Kevin and Christine wage war against each other, their children, Cayden, 16, Hayes, 14, and Grace, 13, are caught in the middle. A friend notes, "It has been hard for the children, understandably. They are old enough to see what is going on." Naturally, they gravitate toward their mother since Kevin has been working so much. This emotional tug-of-war is taking its toll on the entire family.
