Kevin Costner’s Ex Christine Is Dating Josh Connor After Divorce: She Is ‘Happy’ (Source Exclusive)

Kevin Costner’s ex-wife Christine Costner (née Baumgartner) has been dating for months, according to sources.

Financier Josh Connor, a friend and former neighbor of the now-divorced couple, has been dating Christine, 49, “since she broke up with Kevin,” Christine’s friend told PEOPLE exclusively.

“Josh was just a friend at first,” adds the insider.

Christine “loves hanging out with him,” a friend says of Connor. “He is a divorced father and he understands what she was going through. They both love the ocean and beach life. It’s something that makes Christine happy.”

Christine Costner.

SplashNews

Kevin Costner and ex Christine have split amid a contentious legal battle, 4 months after she filed

During a child support hearing in August 2023, Christine’s attorney John Rydell denied rumors of a romance between the two. He then claimed Connor was just a friend amid her divorce from Kevin, 68, and “nothing more than that”.

In May, Christine filed for divorce from Kevin after 18 years of marriage. After months of legal wrangling, the exes settled their divorce in September, reaching an “amicable and mutually agreed upon resolution of all issues relating to their divorce proceedings,” according to a joint statement from reps for the duo.

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Now, another source close to the Costners tells PEOPLE that Christine and Connor are “dating, even though they had a strong friendship before that.” Since Christine and Connor are at “the same place in their lives,” the source adds, romance could blossom. “They have a lot of fun together.”

On Friday, Christine drove Connor to his home in Montecito, California, as revealed in photos he obtained the Daily mail. In the pictures, Connor appeared to be dragging a suitcase as he walked away from her vehicle.

Connor was also seen on the run with Christine in previous months. In July, the two were seen together at a villa in Hualalai, Hawaii, in photos first reported by TMZ. Her children joined them on the beach. (Christine and Kevin share Cayden, 16, Hayes, 14, and Grace, 13.)

Christine and Kevin Costner in 2016.

Gonzalo Marroquin/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images

Why Kevin Coster and Ex Christine Likely Arranged Tense Divorce, According to Legal Expert (Exclusive)

In August, Rydell testified in court that Connor loaned Christine $20,000 when she appeared to be in “distress.” The trip to Hawaii, Christine testified on the stand, was financed by Connor for “everything.”

Kevin’s ex also told the trial that she slept in the same room as another friend on the trip, not with Connor. When asked if Connor was her boyfriend, she replied “no”.

Shortly after settling his contentious divorce, Kevin “is relieved to have this matter resolved and will continue to focus solely on raising their three children together,” a source told PEOPLE at the time.

The Oscar winner was scheduled to appear in court again in November to address the validity of their prenuptial agreement, but instead reached a settlement.

Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education