It’s been about 3 months since the last round of divorce rumors made the rounds about Madonna and Guy Ritchie. Back in July, the word was that Maddy and Guy were planning to divorce after allegations surfaced that she was having an extra-marital affair with New York Yankees baseball player Alex Rodriguez. At that time, Madonna issued a statement that denied the affair and also denied that the couple were splitting up (actually, the statement read “there are no plans for Madonna and Guy to divorce”). After the denial came the necessary show of unity from the couple as Guy flew to Madonna‘s side in NYC to show the world they were happily attached. Guy was with Madonna in August to celebrate her 50th birthday and she was with him in September for his 40th birthday. But last night The Sun reported that divorce is imminent and reported that word would come from the couple as soon as today that they are, in fact, splitting up. Just now, BBC News posted a report that the couple have, indeed, confirmed the split. It really looks like they are dunzo:

MADONNA and GUY RITCHIE are to divorce, The Sun can exclusively reveal. A statement confirming their marriage is over has been prepared and is set to be released imminently. The couple are going public with their split because they “can’t bear to live with the pretence any longer”. They have had a string of shouting matches about the amount of time each devotes to their careers, and over Madonna’s desire to adopt another child. These arguments smashed through their attempts at reconciliation “like a sledgehammer”. A highly-placed source told The Sun: “It’s very sad. They were a great couple and brilliant parents. They just couldn’t live together any more.” Pals say Madge, 50, initially wanted to wait until next year to announce their separation — after her Sticky and Sweet global tour is finished. But now she and Brit movie director Guy, 40, want a divorce finalised before Christmas — which would have seen the eighth anniversary of their fairytale wedding in a Scottish castle … The source said: “Despite huge attempts to patch things up they both knew deep down that divorce was on the cards. It wasn’t a matter of ‘if’ but ‘when’. They tried hard over the last few months but their fighting was getting out of control. “The final straw came before Madonna started her US tour. “Madonna wanted a highly stage-managed separation, with their split being announced when it was convenient for her. She didn’t want the distraction while she is trying to concentrate on her tour. But a series of rows around Guy’s 40th birthday last month were so bad that Madge ended up storming out of the house and Guy’s had enough. Guy said if they were going to split, it has to be now — and their marriage will finally be over in a matter of weeks. Madonna was dithering at first about whether a separation would be best or whether to go ahead with the divorce. She has now agreed with Guy that a divorce is the best thing to do.”

BBC News is reporting that Madonna‘s spokesperson has confirmed the couple’s dunzoness:

Pop star Madonna and her film director husband Guy Ritchie are to divorce after nearly eight years of marriage, their spokeswoman has confirmed. 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”. They appeared together at last month’s premiere of Ritchie’s RocknRolla in London and posed for photographs.

Indeed, last month’s RockNRolla premiere in London was the last time the couple were seen together in public. I understand that Guy has halted filming of his new Sherlock Holmes movie so that he can break the news to his family in person. Madonna, as we all know, is in the middle of the US leg of her Sticky & Sweet World Tour. You know, as many rumors that have gone around about the couple breaking up over the years, I confess that I am still shocked by this news. I cannot believe that the naysayers are right about these two. Madonna and Guy are dunzo … and it is really, very sad. Did any of y’all see this coming? What do y’all think?

UPDATE: Here is the full text of the official statement from Liz Rosenberg, Madonna‘s publicist:

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.

I understand that the statement was signed by both Madonna and Guy and no settlement has been agreed to. It is my sincere hope that this divorce doesn’t turn ugly but considering the vast amount of wealth involved here, it remains to be seen how friendly the couple will remain thru out the course of this monumental split. Wow. Just sad :(

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