- Title: VARIOUS: Madonna and Guy Ritchie to divorce.
- Date: 15th October 2008
- Summary: MCHINJI, MALAWI (FILE - APRIL 17, 2007) (REUTERS -ACCESS ALL) MADONNA WITH ADOPTED SON DAVID BANDA
- Embargoed: 30th October 2008 12:00
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- Reuters ID: LVA4XVQONQ5ZMPE5JAXRAHPG2C3X
- Story Text: Madonna's spokespersons confirm that Madonna and husband Guy Ritchie plan to divorce.
U.S. pop singer Madonna, 50, and British film director Guy Ritchie, 40, have agreed to get divorced, the singer's spokespersons in London and New York said on Wednesday (October 15).
The announcement of the couple's decision to splitmonths of speculation about their relationship.
"Madonna and Guy Ritchie have agreed to divorce after 7-l/2 years of marriage," Madonna's representatives in New York and London said in a statement.
"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," the statement also read.
The couple have a son, Rocco, who was several months old on their wedding day in Scotland in December 2000. In 2006 Madonna applied to adopt David Banda, a boy from Malawi whose mother died shortly after his birth. The adoption was approved by a court in Malawi in May.
Madonna also has a daughter, Lourdes, from an earlier relationship. She was married once before, to actor Sean Penn, in the 1980s.
Madonna's publicist in New York, Liz Rosenberg said relations between the couple were still cordial, and they expected to agree a divorce settlement without going through the courts.
Rumours had been circulating for some time in the press that their relationship was increasingly under strain.
Just weeks ago, the couple made a very public show of affection in what was seen as a move to end speculation surrounding their marriage.
Madonna walked down the red carpet with Ritchie at the world premiere of his latest film in London's Leicester Square.
She made a surprise appearance at the event after the stars of Ritchie's film RocknRolla met fans and the press.
Wearing a short black Stella McCartney dress with jewels down the front, the singer walked arm-in-arm with Ritchie and posed for photographs.
Prior to the Leicester Square appearance, Ritchie stamped on suggestions that his marriage was over with a public show of support at his superstar wife's 50th birthday party.
Movie critic James King believes that now after the divorce, Guy Ritchie will be "freer as a film director".
"Guy Ritchie now I think is gonna be freer as a film director because people will see him as Mr. Guy Ritchie as opposed to Mr. Madonna. Of course there will always be some tabloid journos asking him about Madonna even, you know, when he split up from her. But I think he can be himself now.
He can be a creative person, himself, he doesn't have to live in the shadow of his more successful partner. Which is always difficult," said King.
While show business agent, Jonathan Shalit believes that neither Ritchie's or Madonna's career will be impacted by the divorce. He especially believes this to be true of Madonna.
"I think Madonna's globally renowned and established, and her career seems to go from strength to strength whatever she does. And Madonna has done far worse things than divorce someone. And I think, 'Madonna, this is Madonna' -- she's the greatest female icon of music today and she continues to grow and there seems to be no relationship between Madonna's behaviour and her private life, and her public success," said Shalit.
According to the Sun, Madonna wanted to wait until the end of her Sticky and Sweet global tour before announcing the split.
But the date has now been brought forward, with both parties wanting a divorce finalized before Christmas, the newspaper claimed.
An unnamed source told the newspaper the final straw came when the couple had a "screaming row" shortly before the singer started her US tour.
Ritchie has reportedly broken off from shooting his new film in France to return to the UK.
Leading divorce lawyer Andrew Newbury, of Manchester-based law firm Pannone, said that if the split does end up in court, Madonna's decision to base her family in the UK could mean sheup paying Ritchie more in settlement. - Copyright Holder: FILE REUTERS (CAN SELL)
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