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Guy 'refuses Madonna's offer of £20m'
Amar Singh28.10.08
GUY RITCHIE has turned down an offer of £20million from Madonna and the pair are "no closer" to reaching any agreement over their impending divorce, it was claimed today.
The pair, whose split was made public two weeks ago, are feuding over where their children Rocco, seven, and adopted David Banda, three will live and be educated.
Madonna, 50, wants the two boys to live with her and Lourdes, her 12-year-old daughter from a previous relationship, in New York. But Ritchie, 40, would prefer that the children go to school in London.
The singer's biographer, J Randy Taraborrelli, told Hello! magazine the pair "are at loggerheads".
He said: "There was a great deal of haggling about this matter last week, with Madonna upping the amount of Guy's settlement to more than £20million in hopes that he would acquiesce."
He added that they are "not even speaking to each other. They communicate only through lawyers".
Mr Taraborrelli also said a friend of Ritchie told him that the split could become more acrimonious
The source told him: "I do think it's going to get nasty. He and Madonna are very angry now, no doubt about it, [but] they are willing to put that aside for their children. But I do think that if one sees the other linked up with a new partner so soon, it will make everything a lot more complicated for everyone involved."
It was also claimed today that the couple's legal teams are seeking witness statements from business and house staff.
Madonna has hired Fiona Shackleton, who represented Sir Paul McCartney in his divorce from Heather Mills, while Ritchie has engaged Helen Ward, who secured Britain's highest divorce settlement of £48million for Beverley Charman from insurance tycoon John Charman..
Mr Taraborrelli also said today the two now have very few friends in common.
A source told him: "Madonna was never very fond of Guy's pals. She found them uninteresting and dull. She even used the word 'common' to describe them. And for his part, Guy always felt the conversation was forced and pretentious with many of Madonna's friends."
The biographer also said that Madonna had shrugged off remarks made by her father-in-law John Ritchie last week in which he branded the singer "beastly".
"He never liked me," she is reported to have said, "but... whatever."
Reader views (13)
Paul Goodard......acting career?.....
- Smb, London, UK
Of course Paul from New York, you are absolutely righ. If it hadn't been for Guy Ritchie, Madonna would be a massive movie actress now.... ha, ha, ha, ho, ho, ho....
- Casper Slides, France
This is yet another example of Madonna being a bully and trying to get her way. It is clear that it is about the children. I hope Guy sticks it out and makes sure his son stays in the UK.
- Abf, London
Paul - you're so funny, and people say Americans don't have a sense of humour. that'll teach'em.
- Ptm, London
Madonna is totally naff thinking she can buy Guy Ritchie with money. Pathetic!
- Seb, London
They seem to be fighting for their children not money - on the face of it (from the tabloids so not sure how much that should be believed) the money is payoff to allow her to dictate the needs of the children. If that is the reason then he should refuse this - parental rights are priceless....
- Andy, London
The detail from all of the articles I've read (not that it's any of my business mind you) is that various interested parties are trying to paint Richie as money grabbing. However, ignoring the deliberately contentious headline above, the main item under discussion turns upon where the kids live. Richie lives here and wants his son here, Madonna has a different preference. That she has offered him money to back down does not amount to him being a gold-digger.
Incidentally, why is it that in any notable divorce commentators are so quick to manipulate the facts into a genderised argument? Divorce is not a time for sexist point scoring, it's actually quite depressing for all parties concerned - most importantly the kids.
- Rachelle, London
Guy Ritchie is Naff! I agree with Madonna - He and his friends are talentless and dull and no he shouldn't take a penny from Madonna after that awful film he did with Madonna in it that effectively finished off her acting carear!
- Paul Goddard, New York USA
Phil: Will live in a politically correct society and Mr Ritchie is entitled to half of her estate, just like if the roles were reversed. Don't feel no pity for Madonna, she has plenty of money and will not miss it; one bit!
- Brandon Thomas, London UK
Phil
I totally disagree. It is high time women were given a bloody nose in the divorce courts. If this had been the other way round then guess what? The settlement would have been more like GBP100 million and climbing!!
Guy don't blink, get one back for the boys and make bloody sure she does not drag the kids off to the USA, you will never see them again. UK Court Orders covering contact are utterly unenforceable and monstrously expensive legal pieces of junk.
- James Ritchie, New Malden, Surrey
Phil,
I'm sure a lot of women would do that too if the position were reversed..
Dream on....
- Mark, st albans
Jeez, I'd expect some form of compensation after living the Madge circus for so many years!
- Sharon, London
My view of Ritchie has dropped considerably since the news that he's seeking money off Madonna. If he was a real man, he'd have just walked away -- confident in his own abilities and accomplishments. Without a penny from his wife, he has more than enough to carry on.
- Phil Jones, London UK
