Actor Kevin Costner was seen spending time with his kids in Aspen this week in spite of his ongoing complicated divorce from Christine Baumgartner. The divorce, which Christine filed for on May 1 after 18 years of marriage, has been messy, and Kevin allegedly told his kids about it via Zoom.
"After a 24-year relationship, from his hotel room in Las Vegas, Kevin told our three children that we were getting divorced over a 10-minute Zoom call without me present," Christine claimed in court papers obtained by People last month.
Christine said she hoped to tell the kids about the divorce alongside Kevin, but she alleges that he did it without her.
"The children’s welfare has always been my highest priority, and I was concerned they would find out about the divorce before Kevin and I could tell them. It was important for me that we tell the children in person and together," she said.
A source told People that Kevin regularly uses FaceTime to communicate with his kids, and he was away when Christine filed for divorce. Christine said he was going to be home in five days and could've waited until then to inform the kids.
In the court documents Christine filed, she requested $248,000 a month for her and the kids.
More from LittleThings: Kevin Costner Accuses Estranged Wife Of Charging $95K On His Credit Card Amid Divorce
Kevin called the request "inflated and grossly inaccurate" and offered to pay $52,000 a month, which Christine called "completely inappropriate."
"My primary goal is to make sure that the children continue to thrive, and when they are with me, to live in a home and lifestyle that is at least somewhat comparable to that of their father," Christine said, noting that she is unemployed and doesn't have any income.
Christine also refused to move out of Kevin's house, which he said left him without a home. However, the actor also owns a 160-acre estate in Aspen, Colorado, which is about a two-hour flight from his Santa Barbara mansion. Christine is now supposed to leave the California property by the end of July. However, while Kevin was in Aspen with his kids, Christine was seen near the Santa Barbara property, according to the Daily Mail.
Kevin Costner5
Despite the messy divorce, Kevin appeared to spend quality time with his kids Cayden, 16, Hayes, 14, and Grace, 13.
They were spotted at a grocery store picking up snacks. Kevin wore a cowboy-inspired denim-on-denim outfit, sporting sunglasses and a cowboy hat.
Last week, the former couple's kids took a vacation to Hawaii with their mom. A source told People that Christine was "relieved" to receive $129,755 per month in child support even though she asked for more.
The source said Christine “only wants to take care of and support her children."
“The divorce is not their fault. She doesn’t want them to suffer, or experience negative life changes because of it," the source said.
Kevin has also accused Christine of using his money for personal and divorce-related expenses without his knowledge or permission.
"[Christine] has shown a disturbing propensity in the last several months, both before and after separation, to take his property without his knowledge or consent, especially since this case was filed," Kevin claimed in court documents obtained by Page Six.
His lawyers also claim that Christine bought an expensive car months before filing for divorce, which was unusual for the couple. His legal team alleges that Christine was preparing for the divorce for a while before she actually told Kevin.
While on vacation in Hawaii, Christine was spotted with Josh Connor, who is also friends with Kevin. Christine and Josh are reportedly just friends but have gotten closer recently.
Christine and Josh walked along the beach together, but a source told TMZ that there was "absolutely no romantic relationship" between them.
Following the divorce announcement, it was reported that Kevin was surprised by Christine filing for divorce.
"It is with great sadness that circumstances beyond his control have transpired which have resulted in Mr. Costner having to participate in a dissolution of marriage action," his rep said in a statement at the time.
