Madonna, Ritchie say divorce sums “wrongly issued”

US pop star Madonna and ex-husband Guy Ritchie said today that a statement released on the singer’s behalf detailing terms of their divorce was “misleading and inaccurate”.

Liz Rosenberg, Madonna’s spokesman in New York, said on Monday the singer had given British film director Ritchie between £50 milion and
£60 million as part of their divorce.

Both Associated Press (AP) and Reuters reported the figures, but now the couple are distancing themselves from the accuracy of the details.

“We have tried to maintain a dignified silence regarding the details of our divorce for the last few months while accepting the obvious media interest,” said a joint statement from the pair.

“A misleading and inaccurate statement, specifically in relation to the sums of money involved, was wrongly issued to AP this week,” it added.

“The financial details of the settlement will remain private, save to say that both of us are happy with our agreement. Our primary concern, like any co-parents, is the care and well being of our children.” Ms Rosenberg said on Monday that custody arrangements for the couple’s children had not been finalized.

Madonna and Ritchie have an eight-year-old son, Rocco, and three-year-old son David, adopted from Malawi. The singer also has a daughter Lourdes, born in 1996, from her relationship with fitness trainer Carlos Leon.

Madonna, one of the most successful singers of all time with estimated album sales of more than 200 million, was married once before, to actor Sean Penn, in the 1980s.

Madonna and Ritchie announced their split in October, nearly eight years after their wedding at Skibo Castle in Scotland.

Ritchie is a British film director who is making Hollywood blockbuster Sherlock Holmes starring Robert Downey Jr. as the Victorian-era super sleuth.

The couple’s combined wealth has been estimated at about $525 million, but Madonna accounts for most of it.

Source: Reuters