Source: www.celebritymound.com

With a million dollar divorce looming, Madonna couldn’t resist launching a thinly veiled attack on her soon to be ex husband Guy Ritchie as she took to the stage in Boston last night.

Before she sang ‘Miles Away’, which Madonna previously claimed was inspired by Ritchie, she told the audience: ‘This song is for the emotionally retarded. Maybe you know some people who fall into that category. I know I do.’

The swipe was her only acknowledgment during the show of the split, which was confirmed earlier that day by her spokesperson.

The gig at the city’s Banknorth Garden was the 23rd concert of the Sticky & Sweet World Tour, which started in Cardiff in August and is expected to end in December.

Madonna cryptically announced to a New York concert audience on October 6: ‘In exactly 29 moves, the Queen will dump the King.’ She then had 29 more dates on her U.S. tour.

But in the light of yesterday’s announcement, it seems she simply could not wait that long.

The couple are now lining up for what could become the costliest divorce in British legal history.

After weeks of frenzied speculation, Madonna’s U.S. spokesman Liz Rosenberg yesterday released a statement: ‘Madonna and Guy Ritchie have agreed to divorce after seven and a half years of marriage.

‘They have both requested that the media maintain respect for their family at this difficult time. A final settlement has not been agreed upon yet.’

Madonna had been sending Guy messages their marriage was over months ago when she began moving some of their art collection, including a Dali and portrait of Napoleon Bonaparte by Jacques-Louis David from their London home to their New York residence.

(source)

Source: www.celebritymound.com

THIS is the orphan whom Malawian officials say pop goddess MADONNA is “on the very cusp” of adopting.

Madge originally scrapped her year-long battle for three-year-old Mercy James just four months ago as her marriage to British film director GUY RITCHIE, 39, hit the rocks.

But officials yesterday confirmed the star has resumed her adoption bid — which pals say proves their marriage is “back on track”.

Malawian adoption minister Penstone Kilembe said: “Madonna’s representatives have been visiting the girl. The adoption is now advanced — all the government is waiting for is Madonna to forward the petition of adoption formalities.

“Then Mercy will be able to leave the country for a new life.”

Pals of Madonna, who turns 50 on Saturday, say she is keen to have a sister for her adopted Malawian son David Banda, three — and feels her marriage is again strong enough to cope.

A close family friend revealed: “The adoption process in Malawi is so long and stressful that all the legal wrangling put a huge strain on their marriage.

“They dropped proceedings to pour all their energies into each other. But Madonna now feels they are stable enough to press ahead with the adoption again.”

The friend said Madge “fell in love” with Mercy when they met at her orphanage last year.

However, the girl’s gran Lucy Chekechiwa, 60, said she has been asked repeatedly by officials if Mercy could be adopted by an “unidentified foreign family” — but was firmly against it.

Speaking from her village in Zomba District, Lucy said: “We know that it is Mercy who Madonna really wants. We heard it is because my granddaughter is such a beautiful, happy child.

“Twice I have told the adoption people that I do not want Mercy to go outside the country.

“But they keep on at us. Now they say that Mercy will be leaving us, but can return at age 18. Yet I might not be alive then.”

The Sun revealed how Madge, who also has daughter Lourdes, 11, and son Rocco, eight, was given permission to adopt Mercy last August — but had to stop when the girl’s uncle John Nglanade, 36, blocked the application.

(source)

Source: www.celebritymound.com

Source: www.celebritymound.com

Rumours of a split between MADONNA and her husband GUY RITCHIE are refusing to go away - despite the star issuing a statement dismissing speculation about a possible divorce.

The couple has been under intense media scrutiny amid rumours they are allegedly on the verge of a permanent split.

And the Material Girl’s publicist Liz Rosenberg attempted to set the record straight earlier this week - insisting that there are no plans for a divorce.

But the statement has failed to quash speculation about the state of the pair’s marriage, with new reports suggesting the star is putting off making an official announcement until after she has completed her upcoming Sweet + Sticky world tour later this year.

A source tells British newspaper the Daily Mirror, “Trust me, it’s over. Why else would they both consult divorce lawyers? Madonna hates being pushed into a corner and would hate other people having the satisfaction of saying, ‘We told you so.’

“The announcement will be slipped out after her tour - as planned.”

It would not be the first time the pop star has attempted to keep big news quiet. In 2006, at the height of speculation that Madonna was to adopt a child from Malawi, Rosenberg issued a statement on behalf of the singer vehemently denying the adoption rumours.

Less than two weeks after issuing the denial, Madonna and Guy Ritchie filed adoption papers and brought baby David Banda back to the U.K.

(source)

Source: www.celebritymound.com

A ringless Guy Ritchie was photographed Monday at London’s Heathrow Airport for a flight to New York, presumably to meet up with Madonna.

The two spent this past weekend apart as split rumors swirl.

Looking anguished, Madonna, 49 attended Sabbath service at the Kabbalah Centre in NYC on Friday and Saturday (along with her three children and daughter Lourdes’ biological dad Carlos Leon).

The singer — who was not wearing a wedding ring — ignored photographers’ repeated questions if divorce rumors were true.

As the singer prayed Saturday, Richie, 39, turned to pal Trudie Styler (who introduced him to Madonna) for support in London.

Madonna and Ritchie haven’t been spotted together in weeks (they were last photographed at London’s Kabbalah Centre on June 3).

Last week, The Times of London reported that she had met with high-powered British divorce attorney Fiona Shackleton, who represented Paul McCartney in his split from Heather Mills.

According to The Times, Ritchie has been meeting with a lesser-known law firm, Forsters

It is believed that the couple (who wed in 2000) did not have a prenup, according to The Times. (Madonna is worth an estimated $600 million.)

Ritchie’s mother, Lady Amber Leighton, denied any split rumors in an interview with London’s Mail On Sunday.

“They are no different to most other couples and we all know that being together can be hard sometimes and marriages are not always a bed of roses,” she said.

(source)

Source: www.celebritymound.com

Madonna has met with high-powered British divorce attorney Fiona Shackleton, The Times of London reports.

(Shackleton represented Paul McCartney in his split from Heather Mills. He ended up paying Mills only $48.6 million of the $160 million sought by Mills.)

One lawyer told The Times that Madonna, 49, had met with Shackleton after approaching another firm. (Guy Ritchie, 39, had been rumored “to have had dealings with a lesser-known Mayfair law firm, Forsters,” according to The Times.)

When contacted by Usmagazine.com, her rep said: “No comment at this time, darling.”

It is believed that the couple (who wed in 2000) did not have a prenup, according to The Times. (Madonna is worth an estimated $600 million.)

Breakup rumors have rocked the couple for years.

In the May issue of U.K. Elle, Madonna denied martial strife.

“I had to marry a challenge because otherwise I would just get bored,” she said. “Whatever else Guy is, he’s never boring … We’re both there to help each other and challenge each other.”

She added that she dedicated the love song “Incredible” (on her latest disc Hard Candy) to him.

“Sex with Guy is incredible,” she confessed. “And surprise, surprise, it’s his favorite song on the album. Actually, maybe it’s not his favorite song, but it’s definitely his favorite line.”

They have two children together: Rocco Ritchie, 7, and David Banda, 21 months, whom they adopted in Malawi in 2006. The adoption was finalized last month.

Madonna has a daughter, Lourdes, 11, from a previous relationship with fitness instructor Carlos Leon.

(source)

Source: www.celebritymound.com

Madonna and Guy Ritchie are reported to be discussing a split as their seven-year marriage hits rock bottom.

The relationship between the pop star and her film-maker husband has apparently been strained for months and the pair are believed to be living separate lives in their £6million mansion in London.

A close friend of the couple claimed in the Daily Mirror newspaper that a split was virtually inevitable.

The source said: ‘They’re obviously sad but they’re dealing with it like grown-ups. Things have just run their natural course.’

The paper reports that the couple will formally announce the split when Madonna’s world tour ends on November 29.

The 49-year-old singer is now said to be setting her sights on a fresh start and plans to spend time moving between her plush properties in London, New York and Los Angeles.

Meanwhile, Ritchie, 39, is currently working on a new, updated film version of Sherlock Holmes.

‘They live like brother and sister rather than husband and wife and thought it best to call it a day’, a source told the newspaper.

‘They have just grown apart. They’ve decided they’re better off as friends. It’s sad but they’re determined to keep it amicable.’

Guy was pictured a fortnight ago on a night out with male friends and sources said he and his wife were planning to spend most of the summer apart.

The couple got together after they met at a party thrown by the singer Sting in 1998. They married in a castle in Scotland two years later.

Rather than hide their marital problems, Madonna told a documentary for MTV in 2005 that she ‘wanted to end everything’.

‘My husband didn’t turn out to be everything I imagined him to be’, the star said.

Problems first surfaced when Ritchie allegedly disagreed with the decision to adopt baby David Banda from Malawi.

And relations clearly didn’t improve, with the singer recently telling an interview: ‘Guy can be intolerant of my behaviour.

‘But he has certain personality traits which need to change as well.’

(source)

Source: www.celebritymound.com

With rumours again rife that Madonna and Guy Ritchie’s marriage is on the rocks, The Daily Mail is reporting that the couple have turned to the Kabbalah to help them through their latest problems.

They have been having private ‘teachings’ at their local centre in Oxford Street, London, every Friday night.

Perhaps appropriately for a couple who by all accounts lead separate lives, they have separate teachers, but for the past month they have been meeting together for prayers and blessings.

‘They are having counselling, which everyone who goes to the Kabbalah has,’ says my source.

‘We call them teachings and Guy takes them very seriously, but for a while Madonna stopped going.

‘Guy would go to meetings with the children on Friday nights, then Madonna would turn up for the dinner.

‘For the past few weeks, though, she has been going for prayers. She and Guy have had joint blessings by her rabbi Eitan Yardeni who has been her teacher for many years.

Guy has another teacher called Marcus Weston who has been really supportive. It really hasn’t been an easy time in the Ritchie household.’

Guy was pictured last week on a night out with male friends and sources say he and Madonna, who turns 50 and embarks on a world tour later this year, plan to spend most of the summer apart.

‘Madonna leaves for New York in a couple of days and will be staying at her recently extended and refurbished apartment.

She is taking her kids and her entourage, not Guy, although he may well fly out for appearances’ sake.

‘He just wants to be in London preparing for the release of his movie RocknRolla and spending some time with his friends.’

Meanwhile, I’m told the couple’s celebrity friends have also stepped in to help keep the Ritchies on track.

‘Gwyneth Paltrow has been to the Kabbalah dinners with Madonna – and Sting and Trudie, who introduced them, have been on the phone all the time,’ adds my spy.

Source: www.celebritymound.com

Madonna’s publicist has hit back at claims that the superstar hired Heather Mills’ hard-hitting divorce lawyer, Nicholas Mostyn QC, suggesting a bitter feud was about to erupt.

A celebrity gossip website reported the couple may not have a prenuptial agreement, leaving them both exposed to a harsh fight for joint assets, as well as threatening Madge’s estimated £40m fortune.

The lawyer claimed to have been hired has had a series of high profile divorce proceedings including Earl Spencer and Ray Parlour as past clients.

A source told the gossip site that the alleged separation was due to the couple “growing apart” after spending more and more time estranged and suggested the negative media attention over their adoption strained the relationship further.

Madonna’s public relations agent told Metro that these rumours are “completely untrue” and the couple’s eight year relationship is still intact.

Rumours have been circulating for months speculating that the couple might be on the rocks and Guy Ritchie fuelled further gossip as he failed to show up to his wife’s Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame induction in March.

The multimillionaire couple have one son together, Rocco, as well as David Banda, who was adopted. Madonna’s daughter, Lourdes, is from a past relationship.

(source)

Source: www.celebritymound.com

Madonna and Guy Ritchie put on a united front last night in an effort to quash rampant rumours their marriage is in trouble.

The couple linked arms as the arrived for an intimate dinner at their favourite haunt, Harry’s Bar & Grill in London’s Mayfair.

It’s the first time the pair have been photographed together since they visited India in early January.

It was the second night out in a row for Madonna - she dined with her close friend Gwyneth Paltrow at Locanda Locatelli restaurant on Monday evening.

Sources claim the couple, who married in 2000, are increasing living separate lives, with Ritchie’s father John revealing: “They’re not spending any time together.”

He told Closer magazine: “Madonna is busy in America with the children, and Guy wants to stay in the UK. They won’t be spending Easter together either.”

Madonna’s spokesperson has hit back at the claims, insisting “all is well and wonderful in the Ritchie household.”

The representative added: “Though they were in different countries recently… the family are joyfully back together at home in London.”

The couple are parents to three children - Lourdes, 11, Rocco, 7, and David, 2, whom they are in the process of adopting.

Madonna is preparing for the April release of her new album Hard Candy, which features production by Pharrell Williams, Timbaland and Nate “Danja” Hills as well as an appearance by Justin Timberlake.

For his part, Guy has been working on his new film RocknRolla, which stars Thandie Newton and Gerard Butler.

(source)

Source: www.celebritymound.com

Madonna and Guy Ritchie are not headed for splitsville, according to the singer’s rep.

“I am delighted to confirm that Mr. and Mrs. Guy Ritchie remain happily married,” Liz Rosenberg said in a statement Monday, countering rampant speculation about trouble in the couple’s marriage.

Earlier Monday, a British news service published a story quoting an unnamed source as saying “Madonna and Guy Ritchie are over.” Multiple reports also speculated that the couple, who have been working on separate projects, were planning to split up.

Rosenberg, However, denied there was any truth to those rumors. “Though they were in different countries recently – Madonna in the U.S. doing promotion for her upcoming album Hard Candy and Guy finishing up post production on his new film RocknRolla as well as completing a Nike commercial and working on several scripts in England – the family are joyfully back together at home in London.”

Madonna, 50, and Ritchie, 39, are parents to three children: Lourdes, 11, Rocco, 7, and David, 2 1/2, whom they are in the process of adopting.

Added Rosenberg, “All is well and wonderful in the Ritchie household.”

(source)

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Guy Ritchie and Madonna

Sarah Jessica Parker

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Christmas came early to London’s Leicester Square Monday night for the European premiere of Fred Claus.

The movie’s stars Vince Vaughn and Paul Giamatti held court amid the fake snow and over-sized evergreens, while Guy Ritchie (a.k.a. Mr. Madonna) escorted kids Lourdes, 11, and Rocco, 7, though the winter wonderland.

Just a warm-up for an over-the-top gift-a-palooza at the superstar’s house? Hardly.

“We canceled Christmas a few years ago,” Ritchie, the 39-year-old director of Snatch, told PEOPLE. “Stopped all the presents. And ever since [we] stopped the presents, we’re are actually enjoying it.”

So this year’s celebration will be a quiet affair. “We are not sure what we are doing,” he added. “Probably staying in London.”

As for who’s doing the cooking, Ritchie replied, “Well, it’s not me!”

(source)

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Source: www.celebritymound.com

Madonna and Guy Richie with their children Lourdes and Rocco