As with many other messy celebrity divorces, filing for divorce is just the beginning. In fact, the more the two ex-spouses deal with each other in court and sometimes in the media, the more is revealed about their less than ideal relationship with the public.
For Kevin Costner and his now-estranged wife, Christine Baumgartner, that couldn’t be truer. Though their split came as a surprise to fans, new sources reveal that things have been tough in the Costner family for a while. And more recently, a story about the neighbor (and tenant) next door becomes a prime example.
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According to a source for The Sun, it all started in June 2022, when tech entrepreneur Daniel Starr took out a $50,000-a-month, 12-month lease on the couple’s beachfront guest house right next to their family’s home. “Daniel was really happy living in the house,” the source recalled. “It’s right on the beach and he has a four-year-old son who he wanted to be comfortable with.”
Shortly after the move, Starr formed a “close friendship” with Costner and Baumgartner and often spent time with their children.
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However, things changed as their friendship continued while Costner was away on filming. “Chris and Daniel hung out a lot,” the source added. “She came to his house almost every day.”
Things quickly went awry when Costner found out about their close relationship. “There was a falling out between him and Daniel and things escalated from there,” the source said.
Baumgartner reportedly texted Starr after the fight, telling him to leave the house. “Daniel was really upset,” the source added. “He loved living there and felt he had done nothing wrong. Then he brought in his lawyer.”
After some back and forth between the attorneys, Costner prevailed. “Ultimately, he wasn’t willing to listen to Daniel,” the source added. Starr eventually canceled his lease and moved out in March of that year.
The story goes on
And while this drama feels like a separate incident from Costner and Baumgartner’s divorce (Baumgartner filed for divorce in May), we can’t help but think those two moments are related. After all, some sources have already spoken out about Baumgartner’s loneliness while Costner went to work. So it looks like the few connections she tried to make in the meantime were then shattered by Costner’s alleged jealousy. We can’t imagine how difficult that must have been!
Before you go, click here for all the celebrity breakups and divorces we never expected.
Kelly Clarkson, Brandon Blackstock
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