Simply two months after Christine Baumgartner reportedly “blindsided” Kevin Costner in Could 2023 by submitting for divorce after 18 years of marriage, she took a trip to Hawaii with the “Yellowstone” actor’s buddy, financier Josh Conner.
However as Baumgartner and Costner spent the subsequent few months locked in a bitter divorce battle over youngster help and different points, the mom of three repeatedly denied that there was something romantic between her and Conner, who additionally was her and Costner’s neighbor in Santa Barbara. She and Connor had been “just friends,” her associates would insist.
However Costner thought in any other case, with insiders telling Us Weekly that the filmmaker at all times “had strong suspicions that something was was going on between Christine and Josh” — earlier than they lastly went public with their romance in January 2024.
Now, a yr later, Baumgartner, 50, and Conner, 49, have change into engaged, in keeping with Individuals journal. To a sure extent, the information of their engagement concludes a chapter in a Hollywood divorce drama that Baumgartner started within the spring of 2023, when she filed to finish her marriage from the wealthy and highly effective actor, director and producer.
To file for divorce, the purse designer should have been desperately sad in her marriage to the 70-year-old Costner, who’s is thought for his ego and for being single-minded in the case of engaged on his ardour initiatives, equivalent to “Horizon,” this previous summer season’s critically blended, box-office failure. However maybe Baumgartner additionally knew she may very well be happier with another person.
Conner formally proposed on a seashore in Santa Barbara on Sunday, a supply informed Individuals. “It was about to rain, so almost no one else was on the beach when Josh got down on one knee,” the supply mentioned.
These within the couple’s internal circle weren’t stunned by the proposal, Individuals reported. “They spent Christmas in New York together last month. … They are both over the moon and excited for their future together,” the supply added.
All through Baumgartner’s messy divorce from Costner, she and her associates talked about her simply being associates with Connor. Nevertheless, the “Field of Dreams” star started to suspect that his spouse had been planning her exit months earlier than their official date of separation, April 11, 2023, Individuals reported. Baumgartner and Costner share three kids collectively: Cayden, 17, Hayes, 15, and Grace, 14.
In July 2023, Baumgartner and Conner had been noticed on a romantic getaway to Hawaii, fueling hypothesis a few budding romance, Individuals reported. However Baumgartner may push the friendship narrative as a result of she introduced her three youngsters alongside on the journey. Throughout an August 2023 youngster help listening to, Baumgartner’s lawyer additionally insisted that she and Connor had been associates and “nothing more than that,” the New York Put up reported.
In September 2023, Baumgartner and Costner settled their divorce. 4 months later, a supply confirmed to Those who she and Connor had in truth been in a relationship “for months” and that they had been “so in love.”
“Josh was initially just a friend,” an insider insisted to Individuals. A supply additionally mentioned that Baumgartner “likes hanging out with him,” they share the identical values and she or he feels “so happy and supported in this new relationship.” The supply additionally mentioned: “He is a divorced dad and understands what she’s been going through. They both love the ocean and beach life. It’s something that makes Christine happy.”
Now that Baumgartner and Connor are engaged, they benefit from the help of associates.
“Anyone who knows Christine knows how she has dedicated her life to her family,” an insider mentioned. “They do a lot together, and caring for her kids has remained very focus this whole time.”
“Everyone can tell how happy they are together,” the insider additionally mentioned. “Now, everyone wants to know when and where the wedding will be!”
