Madonna and husband Guy Ritchie are ending their almost-eight-year marriage, a rep for the singer confirmed Wednesday.

“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,” read the short statement e-mailed to the Associated Press by Liz Rosenberg.

The statement, which was co-signed by Ritchie’s representative, also said that the couple had not agreed to a settlement.

“The judgment of the court would be to try and assess what they came in with and divide what they built up fairly equally,” said David Allison, a lawyer with Family Law in Partnership, a London firm, told the AP.

In a front page story Wednesday, Britain’s Sun newspaper claimed that the couple will be issuing a statement “imminently” on the demise of their often tempestuous relationship, which has been the subject of much speculation in recent months.

Contacted by PEOPLE, a rep for the singer declined comment on the story.

Madonna, 50, is in the midst of her Sticky and Sweet tour and is set to play Boston tonight. Ritchie, 40, was believed to be on the set of his latest film, Sherlock Holmes.

Reached at their home in London, his family declined to comment.

Source

Madonna and husband Guy Ritchie are set to announce the end of their almost-eight-year marriage, it was claimed early Wednesday.

In a front page story, Britain’s The Sun newspaper claimed that the couple will be issuing a statement “imminently” on the demise of their often tempestuous relationship, which has been the subject of much speculation in recent months.

Contacted by PEOPLE, a rep for Madonna declined to comment on the story.

Madonna, 50, is in the midst of her Sticky and Sweet tour and is set to play Boston tonight. Ritchie, 40, was believed to be on the set of his latest film, Sherlock Holmes.

Reached at their home in London, his family declined to comment.

Source

Jude Law is reportedly in talks to star alongside Robert Downey Jr. in Guy Ritchie’s adaptation of Sherlock Holmes.

Law is touted to play Holmes’ sidekick Dr. Watson in the forthcoming film and is expected to sign up for the part shortly, according to Daily Variety.

Ritchie denied that Russell Crowe was lined up for the role after reports surfaced earlier this month.

Production on the movie is slated to begin in October in London.

Source

WENN

Director Guy Ritchie has given an insight into his lovelife with superstar wife Madonna after declaring his love for quick sex.

The filmmaker was discussing a sex scene between Gerard Butler and Thandie Newton in his new gangster movie RockNRolla when he made the revelation.

Explaining why he had included footage of Butler and Newton’s characters enjoying a quickie, he says, “It’s over in four seconds. Best type of sex that.”

Source

WENN

Fresh off the rockin’ 50th birthday bash he threw for his superstar wife Madonna, Guy Ritchie says he has made no plans for his own birthday on Wednesday!

“I’ve thought less about my 40th birthday than almost any other birthday,” Ritchie tells the Associated Press. “I’m not sure if that’s kind of an unconscious thing. But I have no plans. So I hope someone’s organizing something for me.”

Guy also said he paid for Madonna’s lavish soirée, and that any bash of his wouldn’t be as grand unless “someone’s prepared to pay the same amount” for his. Could Guy be hinting something to Mrs. Ritchie?

The British film director went on to say he wants lots of “accolade and money” for his big day, says the AP.

Guy is in Toronto promoting his new film ‘RocknRolla,’ while his wife Madonna has been on her “Sticky & Sweet Tour.”

Source

WENN

Thandie Newton forced director Guy Ritchie to fake a sex scene between her and Rocknrolla co-star Gerard Butler – because the Scottish star was suffering from a cold.

On the day the pair was scheduled to leap between the sheets, Butler arrived on set sick – and Newton was so scared of catching his cold, she refused to kiss him.

The actress says, “Gerry was very unwell indeed. So I wouldn’t kiss him. Guy had to improvise. I don’t know how he coped with those problems but it ended up being one of the most brilliant scenes.”

Meanwhile, Ritchie’s wife Madonna tried to cure the sick 300 star with vitamin shots.

He admits his celebrity nurse only served to make him feel worse: “I got a shot from his (Ritchie’s) wife Madonna! I was sick, and she was a nurse basically. Guy introduced me to her and she said, ‘You’re the sick one?’ and I said, ‘Yes’. Well, she was amazing. She just said, ‘Drop your pants’. I stood there with my little bottom out, and she gave me a shot in the bum! It didn’t work at all – I got more sick!. But I appreciated the effort.”

Source

WENN

Guy Ritchie has hinted at the fact he doesn’t follow his wife Madonna’s Kabbalah beliefs in a new interview promoting a documentary he’s made about the faith.

Ritchie is hoping his new film will help others understand exactly what makes the ancient mysticism of Kabbalah so appealing to people like Madonna and Demi Moore – even though he admits he’s not altogether clear about the movement himself.

In an interview with Extra, Ritchie said, “It’s a complicated subject… I don’t really understand Kabbalah as a religion or a belief system.” But he thinks his film will be of great interest to those who are curious about Kabbalah: “It gets people rather hot under the collar.”

Source

WENN