Kevin Costner has always spoken of his now ex-wife Christine Baumgartner with fondness so the news of them divorcing after 19 years of marriage came as a shock not only to the couple’s fans but to the actor himself.
However, people close to the couple say Christine, who was the one to file for divorce, allegedly warned her husband that she would leave him had he continued be absent from home because of work.
Apparently, Costner’s absence was ‘hard’ for Baumgartner who wanted him to spend more time at home with his family in Santa Barbara.
“During filming, Kevin is not around very much. His absence has been very hard for her,” a source reportedly said. Another insider reported that while Costner was aware that his wife was not happy in their marriage, her filing for divorce was nonetheless a shock to him.
“Christine doesn’t want him to throw himself into another project. He has been obsessed with filming Horizon since last year. She wasn’t happy about it,” a source reported.
“At times, his career has taken precedence over his home life,” another source added.
“All of this success and excitement over the new project probably took his attention away from his family more than he realized. Since it didn’t look like that would change and likely could get worse, it caused tension at home,” the source added.
Christine cited “irreconcilable differences” and a spokesperson of the actor said in a statement, “It is with great sadness that circumstances beyond Mr. Costner’s control have resulted in Mr. Costner having to participate in a dissolution of marriage action.”
“We ask that his, Christine’s and their children’s privacy be respected as they navigate this difficult time.”
Baumgartner was seeking $161,000 a month in child support for their three children, Cayden Wyatt, 15, Hayes Logan, 14, and Grace Avery, 13.
In order to try and guarantee this income, Baumgartner went to court, but it was Costner who scored the victory, as per his fans, although the actor said there were ‘no winners’ in the bruising battle.
Namely, a judge in Santa Barbara slashed Baumgartner’s child support payments to $63,000 per month, which is less than half of the $129,000 she currently gets and considerably less than the $161,000 she asked for.
“You know, when you have a life that long with somebody, there is no winner…and it’s this big, crazy thing called life and how it unravels so quickly,” the actor told Fox News Digital.
“One minute you feel like you’re on top of the world, and then you realize how, you know, how vulnerable you are,” he added.
However, following the tough period he’s gone through, it seems like the Yellowstone star has found new love.
There have been speculations circulating that Costner is dating singer Jewel.
The two were recently seen together at a tennis event on Richard Branson’s Necker Island for the Inspiring Children Foundation.
As per TMZ, the two took a plane to the Caribbean and spent nearly a week together.
An insider told the magazine, “There was definitely something going on,” confirming that the pair indeed vacationed in the Caribbean together.
Man Secretly Builds Hidden Sanctuary in Mall, Lives Undetected for 4 Years
Man Secretly Lives in Mall for Four Years Without Being Noticed
Living in a Shopping Mall
Do you enjoy visiting shopping malls? If you work in one, the appeal might not be the same. But imagine actually living inside a mall! That’s exactly what one man did when he discovered an unused space hidden within a shopping center.
The Discovery
In 1999, a massive shopping mall was completed in Providence, Rhode Island. Spanning 1.4 million square feet, the mall featured 160 stores. Every day, artist and drawing instructor Michael Townsend jogged past the newly built structure.
During its construction, Michael stumbled upon what he called the “unintentional room.” This small, seemingly purposeless space was tucked away within the mall and didn’t resemble a store or a functional part of the complex.
Inspired by an Advertisement
Between 2003 and 2004, Michael heard a radio ad for the mall. The enthusiastic commercial suggested that the mall had everything a person needed to live comfortably and maintain a healthy lifestyle. This sparked an idea—what if he actually lived there?
Turning the Hidden Space into a Home
By 2003, Michael noticed that the small room inside the mall remained vacant. Initially, he planned to stay there for just a week as an artistic experiment. However, that single week turned into four years.
Michael described the space as a 750-square-foot area originally used for storing construction supplies. Once the mall was fully operational, the space remained abandoned and forgotten—until he moved in.
Over time, Michael transformed the hidden room into a livable space. He even had plans to complete a kitchen, install hardwood floors, and add a second bedroom. However, before he could make those upgrades, mall security finally discovered his secret apartment.
Caught After Four Years
Michael was apprehended while leaving the hidden space. He later admitted that he was shocked to have gone undetected for so long. He praised the security team for handling the situation professionally and expressed regret for not revealing his unconventional living arrangement sooner.
No Legal Consequences
Surprisingly, Michael faced no legal repercussions for his four-year stay inside the mall. However, he was permanently banned from the premises. He later clarified on his website that he was not homeless and had a job during the entire time he lived in the mall.
The idea that someone could secretly reside in a busy shopping center for years without being noticed is mind-boggling. Michael Townsend’s story is truly a fascinating glimpse into creativity, resourcefulness, and the unexpected ways people can adapt to their surroundings.
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