What a guy!

Ex-husband Guy Ritchie was waiting for Madonna at an airport when she arrived back in England yesterday. A judge ruled on Friday that Madonna would not be permitted to adopt young Mercy Jones, citing a law that adoptive parents must reside in Malawi for an 18- to 24-month assessment period. Madonna has appealed the decision.

“I fully supported Madonna in her decision to apply for this adoption, and I am saddened that her application has been rejected,” said Ritchie, who divorced Madonna last November after eight years of marriage. “She is motivated only by being a caring parent who seeks to share some of the advantages and opportunities that her life has given her.”

Guy and Madonna share custody of son Rocco, 8, and David Banda, 3, who was adopted from Malawi in 2006. Of Madonna’s parenting skills, Guy said: “Madonna is a fantastic and loving mother who cares deeply about her own children, and children who may need additional help and support.”

Madonna and husband Guy Ritchie are to divorce in London on Friday, according to the High Court where so-called “quickie” divorces are formalized.

The case was listed on Thursday under the names Ciccone M L v Ritchie G S and will be heard before a judge in the High Court’s Family Division.

Both are entitled to attend the court, although in most high-profile celebrity cases people choose not to.

The couple announced last month that they had agreed to finish their eight-year-old marriage, ending intense speculation over the relationship.

The word from the British press today is that the former lovebirds have come to an amicable agreement on the terms of their divorce, with Ritchie reportedly refusing to take one penny of the Material One’s massive fortune, valued in the $400 million-$500 million range.  What a guy!

Per the London Evening Standard, Madonna, 50, and Ritchie, 40, will share custody of their two children, 8-year-old Rocco and 3-year-old adopted son David. The kids will split their time between New York, where the pop queen is taking up full-time residence, and the director’s home in London.

Madonna’s daughter, Lourdes, who she had with former personal trainer Carlos Leon, will continue to live with her.

“This song is for the emotionally retarded. Maybe you know some people who fall into that category. I know I do.”

-Madonna, to her audience at her concert in Boston on Wednesday night before performing “Miles Away” – a song she’s said was inspired by her ex.

Pop star Madonna and her Guy Ritchie are to divorce after nearly eight years of marriage, their spokeswoman has told the Associated Press news agency.

She said in a statement the pair had not agreed to a settlement and asked the media to respect their privacy.

The announcement follows months of speculation that the couple’s relationship was in trouble.

In July, Madonna’s publicist denied the pair were planning to divorce, saying their marriage did not “need saving”.

In August, Madonna and Guy renewed their wedding vows.

They appeared together at last month’s premiere of Ritchie’s movie RocknRolla in London and posed for photographs.

After the recent rough patch in their marriage, Madonna and Guy Ritchie renewed their wedding vows at a private kabbalah ceremony in London over the weekend. Madonna, who turned 50 last weekend, flew in her Kabbalah teacher from LA to conduct the ceremony, which lasted about an hour. Madonna and Guy showed up at the kabbalah center in workout clothes and then changed into white robes.

Madonna is about to start a massive world tour. Guy is planning his 40th birthday party on Sept. 10, to be held at the Punch Bowl pub, which he owns with Madonna. No word as to how much Guy will actually tour with Madonna, if at all.

Good luck on making it work. It seems like these two are always working on their marriage.

The Times of London, a very reputable newspaper, is reporting that Madonna has met with high-powered British divorce attorney Fiona Shackleton. Shackleton represented Paul McCartney in his infamous split from Heather Mills. Also according to The Times, Guy Ritchie, 39, had been rumored “to have had dealings with a lesser-known Mayfair law firm, Forsters”.

Madonna and Guy are each lawyered-up. It is rumored that they don’t have a pre-nup. This divorce could get ugly.

Madonna’s huband, Guy Ritchie is nowhere to be found lately. According to sources, the couple has spent most of the last six months away from each other.

Guy was noticeably absent from her Madonna’s induction into the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame. In turn, she didn’t mention him in her acceptance speech. Ouch!

The pair have been married for seven years.

Now, reports are coming from Guy Ritchie’s father, John, that his son’s marriage is indeed on the rocks.
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