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NY Post
New York Post
16 Aug 2023


NextImg:Kevin Costner accuses wife of ‘gamesmanship’ as messy divorce rages on

Kevin Costner has reportedly accused his ex-wife Christine Baumgartner of “gamesmanship of the worst sort” as their tense divorce battle rages on.

New court documents obtained by People allegedly show that the 68-year-old “Yellowstone” star requested an order filed in California Superior Court on Aug. 10, asking the court to compel his wife of 18 years— who filed for divorce on May 1 — to explicitly answer a number of questions his attorneys have put to her about their premarital agreement.

His lawyers claim Baumgartner, 49, has avoided answering questions — including whether or not she understood the prenup before signing it back in 2004 — and therefore, has not been able to answer them.

Gamesmanship in a lawsuit refers to the aggressive and strategic acts of creating additional expense or stress for the other party in order to persuade them to abandon their case or settle on more favorable terms.

This comes as both legal teams prepare for the November trial to determine the validity of the prenup.

If the handbag designer challenges the agreement in an upcoming hearing, she could be forced to pay Costner back the $1.5 million payout he fronted her.

(L-R) Christine Baumgartner and Kevin Costner attend the 94th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood and Highland on March 27, 2022.
Getty Images

The Post has contacted reps for Costner for comment.

“The Bodyguard” star’s lawyer Laura Wasser wrote in the filing according to TMZ that “Christine’s counsel asked for a definition of ‘understood’ and Kevin’s counsel provided the dictionary meaning of the word ‘understood,’ to wit, ‘comprehended or perceive the intended meaning of words.'”

Kevin Costner and Christine Baumgartner attend the premiere of "The Art of Racing In The Rain" with their kids in 2019.

Kevin Costner and Christine Baumgartner attend the premiere of “The Art of Racing In The Rain” with their kids in 2019.
Getty Images

“Christine asserts she cannot admit or deny that she understood the Premarital Agreement because she (and apparently all of her attorneys) do not understand the word ‘understand,’” the court docs read, per the outlet.

The separation has allegedly been exceptionally bitter, with sources saying the “Yellowstone” star has sworn to make his Baumgartner’s life a “living hell.”

The former couple at the premiere of "Yellowstone" Season 2 in May 2019.

The former couple at the premiere of “Yellowstone” Season 2 in May 2019.
Getty Images

In July, a judge ruled that Costner pay his estranged wife $129,755 per month in child support for their three kids — though she originally asked the court for $248,000 a month.

The Emmy-winner was also ordered to cover $200,000 in attorney’s fees and $100,000 in forensic costs.

Costner and Baumgartner attend the Elton John AIDS Foundation's 30th Annual Academy Awards Viewing Party on March 27, 2022.

Costner and Baumgartner attend the Elton John AIDS Foundation’s 30th Annual Academy Awards Viewing Party on March 27, 2022.
Getty Images for Elton John AIDS Foundation

The judge also ruled that the exes had to uphold their prenup, which meant Baumgartner had to move out of their shared family home.

In late

Although Costner may be singing a sweeter tune as the U-haul vans’ final destination was Costner’s oceanfront 10-acre Santa Barbara, California home about a half mile away, so that may be where Baumgartner will temporarily call home while the divorce is finalized.

She is reportedly now living in a “small house” on Costner’s property that was “used as a staff quarter.”