The rumor alleging an affair between actor Kevin Costner and Kelly Ripken, wife of baseball legend Cal Ripken Jr., originated from sensationalized tabloid reports in the late 1990s. Here's the factual account:
The Origin
The speculation began in 1999 during the filming of Costner's baseball movie "For Love of the Game". Tabloids, notably The Globe and The National Enquirer, published stories claiming Costner and Kelly Ripken were involved in an extramarital affair. Specific false claims included:
- Costner visiting the Ripken family home in Maryland.
- Costner and Kelly meeting secretly at a Baltimore hotel.
- Kelly Ripken accompanying Costner to film locations.
Immediate & Definite Denials
All parties involved vehemently and publicly denied the allegations:
- Kevin Costner stated the reports were "a complete fabrication" and had caused harm to innocent people. He emphasized he had never met Kelly Ripken before the tabloid reports surfaced.
- Cal Ripken Jr. called the rumors "malicious" and "hurtful lies", fully supporting his wife and expressing anger at the invasion of their family's privacy.
- Kelly Ripken also categorically denied the affair.
Legal Action & Outcome
In response to the damaging falsehoods, Kevin Costner took legal action:
- Costner filed a defamation lawsuit against the publishers of The Globe and The National Enquirer in November 1999.
- The lawsuit resulted in a confidential settlement, with the tabloids issuing formal retractions and apologies. Details remained private, but the legal action confirmed the stories lacked any factual basis.
Reality & Aftermath
The rumors were thoroughly debunked and recognized as entirely false:
- No credible evidence supporting the affair claims ever emerged.
- The denials from Costner and the Ripkens were consistent, unequivocal, and credible.
- The legal settlement with the tabloids validated the position that the reports were defamatory falsehoods.
- Kelly Ripken had no prior relationship with Costner, countering the tabloid narrative.
The "Kevin Costner Cal Ripken Wife" rumor stands as a notable example of celebrity tabloid fiction, quickly discredited by firm denials and legal consequence, with no basis in fact.
