Don't cry for her, gossip watchers. Amid deafening rumblings that Madonna's marriage to Guy Ritchie is on the rocks, the singer’s publicist is working overtime to justify their love.
"I am delighted to confirm that Mr. and Mrs. Guy Ritchie remain happily married," publicist Liz Rosenberg said in a statement Monday, shooting down rumours about the singer’s seven-year marriage to Ritchie.
Speculation that Madonna and her director hubby were having trouble expressing themselves kicked into high gear last week, when Ritchie was a no-show at his wife’s induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in New York. He also failed to attend last month’s fundraiser she co-chaired at United Nations Plaza to benefit her Raising Malawi charity and UNICEF, and the Berlin premiere of her directorial debut, Filth and Wisdom, on Feb 13.
Adds Rosenberg, "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. All is well and wonderful in the Ritchie household."
British tabloids are having a field day with reports that all is not well in Madge’s kingdom. Yesterday, Britain’s Sun claimed the couple has divided their country and city homes into "his and hers quarters" to avoid each other. A source tells the rag, "The marriage is hanging by a thread. No one doubts they adore their three kids, but the children seem to be the only reason they are living this strange loveless existence."
Meanwhile, yesterday's News of the World quoted a source who claims: "Madonna and Guy are over. It's all very amicable. They've just fallen out of love with each other."
Even Madonna’s own father-in-law, John Ritchie, is getting in on the action, recently admitting to Closer magazine that the couple is "not spending any time together. Madonna is busy in America with the children, and Guy wants to stay in the UK. They won't be spending Easter together either. Guy is very busy over here in England, and didn't make it to her film premiere last week. He spends his weekends in the countryside and the rest of the time in London."
For her part, Madonna seems to be taking the rumours in stride. The singer was spotted enjoying dinner with BFF Gwyneth Paltrow at London’s Locanda Locatelli on Monday night. Perhaps she’s taking comfort in the somewhat suspicious timing of the headline-grabbing speculation; her new album, Hard Candy, hits store shelves April 29.
Related News:
Gallery: Weirdest Madonna merch Gallery: Hollywood's most expensive divorces
Featured blog: Scandal Sheet
Video: The latest gossip on Celebrity Friends with Benefits Video: Watch Xtreme episodes on Dose.ca
© (c) CanWest MediaWorks Publications Inc.
