[Mrluvaluva]

Pop star Madonna and her husband Guy Ritchie are to divorce after nearly eight years of marriage, their PR representatives have confirmed.

The pair had not agreed to a settlement and asked the media to respect their privacy, the announcement added.

It followed several 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".

The pair appeared together at last month's premiere of Ritchie's RocknRolla in London, walking arm-in-arm and posing for photographs in London's Leicester Square.

Ritchie, 40, had rebutted suggestions his marriage was over with a public show of support at Madonna's 50th birthday party in August and also told a US magazine in July the marriage was "fine".

The statement issued on Wednesday read: "Madonna and Guy Ritchie have agreed to divorce after seven and a half years of marriage, their representatives confirmed today.

"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."

Madonna is due to play a concert in Boston later as part of her Sticky and Sweet tour.

She and Ritchie married in December 2000 at Skibo Castle in the Scottish Highlands and have two sons together - seven-year-old Rocco and David Banda, whose adoption from Malawi was approved in May.

The singer also has a 12-year-old daughter, Lourdes, from an earlier relationship.


Original article here