Kevin Costner’s ex-wife, Christine Baumgartner, has reportedly moved on from their bitter split and is now dating their former neighbor, it has been claimed.
Christine filed for last May, to an end after 18 years.
After the 68-year-old was , his ex is thought to have found love with financier Josh Connor.
According to reports, the 49-year-old had a close friendship with the businessman as they lived near each other in Montecito, which has grown into something more.
‘Josh was initially just a friend,’ an insider told , explaining that she ‘likes hanging out with him’.
‘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.’
Another source shared that they ‘are dating, although they had a strong friendship before that’.
They grew their connection after finding themselves in the ‘same place in their lives’, and are ‘having a lot of fun together’.
reports that Christine and Josh met through their daughters, who have also been close friends for years.
They were recently pictured jetting on holiday together, and also enjoyed the sunshine in Hawaii last July – the outlet reports that the trip was mentioned in court during the handbag designer’s divorce proceedings, but she tearfully insisted that they were just friends at the time.
A source has since told the publication: ‘They’re together and they have been for a while. They spent time before Christmas together in Hawaii while Kevin was presumably in Aspen with the kids.
‘They also made a trip to New York together. She hasn’t been doing much to hide what’s going on from her friends.’
Christine is thought to have settled her separation from Kevin in September, months after she submitted paperwork to end their marriage.
The pair walked down the aisle in 2004 after four years of dating, and went on to welcome Cayden, Hayes and Grace together, while Kevin is also dad to four kids from previous relationships.
Christine cited irreconcilable differences in the divorce documents – with the Bodyguard actor’s reps confirming their split shortly after.
Kevin offered a rare comment on their divorce battle in September, describing the situation as ‘a horrible place to be but this is where we’re at.’
‘It feels so bad, we’re talking about somebody I love on the other side. I just can’t,’ he told Access Hollywood.
When asked whether he still ‘has love’ for Christine, he simply added: ‘Of course.’
