It's official: Madonna and Guy Ritchie to divorce (+video)

Madonna and Guy Ritchie have announced they are to divorce. Photo / AP

UPDATED: Madonna

and husband

Guy Ritchie

are to divorce, their PR representatives have confirmed.

After nearly eight years of marriage, and countless denials of domestic trouble, the singer and film director are calling it a day.

Relations between the couple are said to be still cordial, and it's likely they will agree a divorce settlement without airing their dirty laundry in a courtroom, Madonna's spokesperson Liz Rosenberg said.

The former couple announced their split with a short joint statement that read: "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.

"The main concern for Madonna and Guy are their children - the security of their children in all senses of the word and the wellbeing of their children."

The Splitsville news comes after British tabloid

The Sun

reported yesterday that a divorce announcement was imminent. The tabloid quoted a "highly placed" source as saying the pair "can't bear to live with the pretence any longer," so they decided to end the charade.

Predictably, tongues have already started wagging around the proverbial water cooler as to why the couple split. So far, fingers are pointing directly at both their careers as catalysts, and Madge's alleged fling with A-Rod.

Penny for the Guy?

The

Daily Mail

reports that a divorce settlement could potentially leave Guy Ritchie pocketing up to £150million, which could well be the costliest split in showbiz history.

Then there's the claim that the megastar couple didn't sign a

pre-nuptual agreement

before they got hitched. That could be problematic.

Madge 'n Guy have three kids - Rocco, 8, Madonna's 12-year-old daughter Lourdes with ex Carlos Leon, and adopted baby David, 3. As their statement says, the former couple's main concern is for their children - which is an obvious priority, because the divorce will hit them the hardest.

Several sources say that Lourdes wants to move to New York with her father, Carlos Leon. As for baby David and Rocco, it's not yet clear where, and with who, they will be living.

Madonna is scheduled to perform a concert in Boston later this week as part of her

Sticky and Sweet

tour. Ritchie, on the other hand, is said to be in the UK filming his new flick

Sherlock Holmes

.

A fine romance

Madonna and A-Rod are still carrying on a steamy relationship, according to reports.

A snitch tells Usmagazine.com that Madge and New York Yankees player

Alex Rodriquez

"are definitely romantic." I think they mean they've got the hots for each other.

"Guy is not involved in this equation," the snitch says. "With or without A-Rod, Madonna and Guy haven't been 'together' for over a year - they have been privately separated. Madonna, however, wanted to finish her world tour before divorcing."

These two have been romantically linked as far back as June of this year. You'll remember I was tracking their supposed romantic trysts back then.

Then there's the rumour that the two were spotted dining out at a swanky NYC restaurant last month. Onlookers said they looked "very cosy" together, and later left the restaurant via different exits. Oo-er.

"A-Rod and Madonna are more involved than ever," the snitch adds.

"Alex has really missed spending time with Madonna. However, he understands the position Madonna's in."

Madonna circus

Back to the Daily Mail for some more scoop. The newspaper has just published an editorial which regurgitates the story of how Madonna adopted baby David Banda. Some interesting points, along with the angle that David is probably the real victim of Madonna's divorce.

Fast updates

*Madonna's pal Gwyneth Paltrow reportedly spent months begging her try and save her marriage.

A source told MailOnline: "Gwyneth begged Madonna all summer not to be an idiot and let this marriage fall apart."

The Sun reports that Madge 'n Guy are only days away from finalising their split. Guy has also told his lawyers he doesn't want a cent of Madge's fortune. But the juicy part is the Sun's claim that Madge "launched divorce proceedings against Guy after levelling a series of accusations against him — portraying him as a cruel and selfish husband".

IGNORED her pleas to spend more time in New York and shunned her love of the Kabbalah faith;

FAILED to support her emotionally over child adoption plans, and;

This is so going to get dirty.


BBB

*New! Subscribe to Blogger Bites Back by Email