Kevin Costner and Christine Baumgartner’s nearly two-decade-long marriage seemed like a fairy tale to the outside world. But behind closed doors, the reality was quite different. Baumgartner recently made the difficult decision to file for divorce after 18 years of marriage. Let’s take a closer look at the reasons behind her choice.

Costner, the 68-year-old actor, was taken by surprise when his wife decided to end their marriage. Baumgartner’s main concern was that they were not spending enough quality time together as a family at their Santa Barbara home. Costner’s frequent absences due to his demanding work schedule had taken a toll on their relationship.

According to a source, “While Kevin is filming, he’s not around much. His absence has really taken a toll on her.”

Baumgartner had expressed her unhappiness in the marriage to Costner, but he was still surprised by her decision to divorce him. He had been focusing on his successful career, especially with the popularity of his show “Yellowstone” and his upcoming directorial project, “Horizon.”

Baumgartner was concerned about Costner’s availability given his busy schedule. A source revealed, “Christine didn’t want him to immerse himself in yet another project. She wasn’t pleased about it.” There were times when his career took precedence over their family life, causing strain in their relationship.

Costner’s success and the excitement surrounding his new project diverted his attention from his family more than he realized. With no sign of that changing and the intensity of his work increasing, it put a strain on their marriage.

The couple had been together since 2000 and got married in 2004. Baumgartner cited “irreconcilable disagreements” as the reason for the divorce. They have three minor children together: Cayden, Hayes, and Grace.

This isn’t Costner’s first divorce. His first marriage to Cindy Silva lasted from 1978 to 1994 and they have three adult children: Joe, Lily, and Annie. Additionally, Costner has a son named Liam with Bridget Rooney, born during his first divorce.

Currently, Costner is in Utah working on his upcoming film, “Horizon,” marking his return to directing after over two decades. Before that, he was heavily involved in filming “Yellowstone” in Montana. Paramount recently announced that the show will conclude after the current season.

There were rumors that Baumgartner threatened to end the relationship if Costner didn’t quit the show last year. However, on Tuesday, Costner filed his response to the divorce, requesting joint custody of their three children.

Costner’s representative issued a statement expressing sadness and asking for privacy for Costner, Baumgartner, and their children during this challenging time. Baumgartner hasn’t asked for spousal support, indicating that they might have had a prenuptial agreement in place.

Their case is scheduled for a hearing in July.

Costner has been married before, and his first wife played a significant role in his early career. They met in college and had three children together, but their marriage faced challenges and eventually ended in divorce.

This is undoubtedly a difficult time for the Costner family, and they deserve our support and understanding as they navigate through this challenging phase of their lives. Let’s keep them in our thoughts and wish them well.