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Madonna is being 'beastly' over divorce to my son says Ritchie Snr
Robert Mendick, Chief Reporter17.10.08
GUY RITCHIE'S 80-year-old father intervened today in his son's increasingly bitter divorce from Madonna by accusing the pop star of being "beastly".
John Ritchie's criticism of his daughter-in-law followed Madonna's own thinly veiled attack on her soon-to-be-ex husband in which she apparently referred to him as an "emotional retard".
The war of words will likely blow a hole in attempts to keep the marital split as "harmonious" as possible.
Ritchie, 40, could lay claim to as much as half of Madonna's estimated £300million fortune, while access and custody of their two children is also likely to preoccupy their legal teams.
Mr Ritchie, a former advertising executive, was speaking on the doorstep of his Chelsea home today. Madonna, 50, is said to have once asked her husband: "Did you ever actually love me?" because she felt he did not show her enough sympathy when she fell off a horse.
At her concert in Boston, hours after the couple announced they were divorcing, Madonna told the crowd: "This song is for the emotionally retarded. Maybe you know some people who fall into that category. God knows I do."
Asked what he now thought of Madonna, Mr Ritchie said today: "She is being beastly. She is saying 'did you ever love me?' When he's being bashed by her it's horrid."
He revealed that his son is trying to keep his mind off the divorce by throwing himself into his work. Ritchie is currently shooting his latest film, Sherlock Holmes. Mr Ritchie said: "I haven't spoken to Guy for a few days. He's very busy. He is really into his new film."
Ritchie has hired Lady Ward, the lawyer who secured Britain's highest ever divorce court payout, to act for him. Madonna is using Fiona Shackleton, who handled the divorces of both Prince Charles and Sir Paul McCartney.
Legal sources have told the Standard the case will be settled in London. There had been speculation Madonna might have pursued a divorce in New York. Both parties will hope to avoid embarrassing publicity like that accompanying Sir Paul's protracted divorce from Heather Mills, but the war of words so early in the process does not bode well.
It is claimed today that Madonna, who is in the middle of her Sweet and Sticky tour, went so far as to "celebrate" her separation from Ritchie by throwing a party after her Boston concert. The party, over an entire floor at the Ritz Carlton Hotel, ended in the early hours.
The main source of dispute is likely to be over access to their children, with Ritchie desperate not to be parted from his son Rocco, aged eight, to whom he is said to be devoted.
Madonna is said to be anxious to move herself and her three children back to New York, but a source close to Ritchie was quoted as saying: "The idea that [Rocco] will be across the Atlantic most of the time is tearing him apart.''
Reader views (7)
What will become of the kids she bought on eBay? Will she give them back to their families?
- Neil, london uk, Airstrip ONE .
One good thing out of all this is that we will will not have to read all about Mrs Shireen (Tory) Ritchie's activities once her step son (Guy) is divorced from Madonna. The ultimate in the activities of the wanabee celeb.
- Richard, London, England
Here we go - starting to spiral down into the mire already, isn't it (this amicable divorce).
- Rogan, Irving
Should have found himself a nice girl ?
- Mike, County Durham
i bet guy is glad tobe free of her now she is a dommenering weirdo and should get back to the real world .good riddence i say
- Delboy, london england
Why do we honestly care so much about 2 people with more money than sense. They married each other and should have had the foresight to expect a sad ending to their relationship. What about 'real' people who may have their entire savings in Icesave. or be facing eviction because they can't pay their mortgages. We spend far too much time obsessed with stars, footballers and WAGs etc. Newspaper and TV News coverage is ridiculously excessive. There are far more important people and events that deserve our interest. What do we know about people who really matter in this and other countries, e.g. doctors, scientists & inventors, or about other continents such as as South America. We are immersed in a load of dumbed down dribble. Even BBC newscasters talk to us as if we are all a bunch of morons.
- Bb, Harrow
The money seems like a trivial issue here. Its more a father who doesn't want to be separated from his son, or a child who doesn't want to be apart from his Mum and siblings. A tricky one, as at that age, both parents are so important. Best of luck to both of them-I hope they reach a fair decision.
- Smb, London, UK
