“Josh has been Christine’s rock throughout the divorce ordeal. If Kevin has a problem with that, that’s on him.”
Costner is said to have moved on himself by dating singer Jewel, 49.
An insider previously told People: “Josh was initially just a friend. [Christine] likes hanging out with him. He is a divorced dad and understands what she’s been going through.”
Baumgartner and Connor are also said to have bonded over “the ocean and beach life”, People’s source adding “it’s something that makes Christine happy”.
In July, Baumgartner and Connor vacationed together in Hawaii as she and Costner were embroiled in their bitter divorce proceedings.
Photos of the pair showed them going for a stroll along the beach, but a source denied at the time the two were involved romantically.
About a month later, The Bodyguard star Costner claimed in court Baumgartner’s “new boyfriend” gave her US$20,000 ($33,000) in cash, and alleged he shouldn’t have to pay her more than US$129,000 ($211,000) per month in child support given her financial set-up.
Baumgartner and her attorney denied she was dating Connor when she took the stand.
