The handbag designer filed to end the marriage in May, and the two officially finalized their divorce last month. Due to the contentious nature of their split, the duo was expected to have no plans to be amicable.
Per reports, all that has changed, and the former couple are now on speaking terms. However, friends of Costner believe that Baumgartner might be plotting to get more money from the actor, especially as she feels shortchanged.
Kevin Costner & Christine Baumgartner ‘Are Being Cordial’
It was barely a month ago when Costner and Baumgartner were at each other’s necks while trying to dissolve their 19 years of marriage. Baumgartner had filed for divorce in May, seeking nearly $200,000 for child support for the three kids they share, sons Cayden, 16, and Hayes, 14, plus daughter Grace, 13.
However, things didn’t turn out as she had envisioned, resulting in both parties settling out of court and upholding the terms of their prenup.Now, according to the National Enquirer (via Radar Online), Costner and Baumgartner are “cordial” with each other and are even on speaking terms. It’s being claimed that the “Yellowstone” ac tor still cares about his ex-wife despite all that has happened, especially during the divorce lawsuit.
“Christine is seeing the positive side of being friendly with Kevin again since she walked away with much less than she bargained for,” a source told the news outlet. “They’re being cordial, which is a relief to Kevin. Even after all this bad blood, he still has a sweet spot for her.”
Is Christine Baumgartner After More Money From Kevin Costner?
Although details of the settlement between the former couple remain unknown, Baumgartner reportedly received $1.5 million, which was the amount agreed upon in the prenup she signed in 2004. This excludes other fees and a child support fee of approximately $63,000, just around one-third of what the mother of three had requested when she filed for divorce from Costner.
Several reports after the divorce noted that Baumgartner was dissatisfied with what she received and that she only chose to settle out of court because she knew her chances of winning were slim. Consequently, Costner’s friends aren’t buying Baumgartner’s act of peacemaking.
“But the feeling is Christine’s using that to her advantage — getting him to drop his guard in the hopes he’ll give her more money,” the source shared. They added, “People around them say Christine would go even further and make it a friends-with-benefits situation. He’d go for it, but he should be careful — because it might cost him.”
Christine Baumgartner Allegedly Badmouthed Kevin Costner’s Sexual Prowess
The reports about Costner and Baumgartner’s choice to be cordial with each other come weeks after the handbag designer allegedly smeared Costner’s reputation following their out-of-court settlement. At the time, sources claimed that she was on a chit-chat spree, telling all who would hear that the actor wasn’t up to par in bed in a bid to “make him the laughingstock of Hollywood.”
“Christine is reaping sweet revenge by trashing Kevin to anyone who will listen, saying he’s a selfish lover who never satisfied her,” a source shared, per Radar Online. “It’s amusing to people because Kevin has always prided himself on his reputation as a Don Juan.”
The insider also noted that this was not the first time Baumgartner disparaged Costner’s sexual prowess, saying that she had hinted at it in the early days of their relationship.
“Even in their early days, Christine hinted Kevin’s bedroom skills weren’t much to crow about,” the source added. “Now, she’s blabbing it to everyone.”
The Reason Why The Pair Got Divorced
In the court filing, Baumgartner cited ” irreconcilable differences ” as the reason for filing for divorce from Costner. The precise date of their separation was not publicly disclosed until May. However, court records later confirmed that Baumgartner officially recognized April 11 as their date of separation.
Back in May, a rep for the “Yellowstone” actor also officially informed the public that Costner and Baumgartner were no longer a couple. The statement read at the time, “It is with great sadness that circumstances beyond his control have transpired that have resulted in Mr. Costner having to participate in a dissolution of marriage action. ” it also urged the public to respect the duo and their children’s privacy as they “navigate this difficult time.”