Guy Ritchie Chooses Class Over Crass, While Madonna Opts For Grass And Sass
Rumors are swirling around the continuing saga of the Madonna/Guy Ritchie divorce, and the latest ones are that Guy has chosen to not take a huge chunk of Madonna’s fortune, instead choosing to focus his attention on taking care of his sons:
In another document released by the court, Senior District Judge Philip Waller, who gave the go ahead for the divorce, said he was satisfied that the court did not need to exercise its powers under the Children Act nor give any directions under the Matrimonial Causes Act.
This would indicate that the couple reached a mutual settlement over their assets and the children before the divorce. [...]
Ritchie was no doubt in a celebratory mood after both parties agreed to an initial financial deal and a shared 50/50 custody agreement over their sons.
And he said last night: ‘It dragged on much too long and that had nothing to do with me.
‘It was never about the money – never about her bloody art collection. I just wanted to settle it and move on.
He told a friend: ‘I didn’t raise any objections at any stage until she insisted the children lived permanently in New York.’
Ritchie – who under English law is in principle entitled to up to 50 per cent of the wealth earned during the marriage – has opted to take very little of his wife’s money in order to retain some control over his children’s future.
But reports claim he will walk away with the 1,200 Ashcombe House estate in Wiltshire and the couple’s £2.5million Punchbowl pub in Mayfair.
And under the terms of the settlement, the family’s four houses in London – worth around £17million will be sold and the money split equally.
However, there seem to be some under-the-table dealings, as not everything decided on is inked up in the papers:
A source close to the couple told the Daily Mail last night: ‘All is not quite what it seems. The deal is 50/50 in terms of child access.
‘On paper anyway, Guy will not take any money. However all the security, travel and any other arrangements with the children will be funded by Madonna.
‘She has also agreed to give him a £2million sweetener as a kind of gift. This will not be seen in the court paperwork.
‘She will maintain his standard of living for the children. However that arrangement will also not be seen in the court paperwork.’
One thing that Guy pushed for, and got, was 50/50 time with his boys. Madonna was wanting to limit his time seeing them and base the kids full-time in New York, but her argument didn’t really have merit since she has seen so little of them herself lately:
She had wanted all her children to live with her in New York, but her 40-year-old husband was keen to ensure that his sons stay in England.
The source said a compromise had now been reached which will see the two boys dividing their time between Britain and the US.
Lourdes will stay with her mother, who is currently on a world tour, in America.
Richie, who is currently looking after their sons, took them both to the London set of his film Sherlock Holmes.
A source close to the couple added: ‘Madonna is gutted that he has got 50/50 access. What went against her was the small amount of time that she has spent with the kids recently. They have always been with nannies.
‘Her lawyers made clear to her that if she had gone to court not only would it have been a slanging match, but she could have lost more access.’
It seems that, under British law, the decree nisi is the first step, and a decree absolute can be filed after six weeks and one day have passed, if there are no objections.
The speed at which they got this thing worked out was nothing short of amazing to watch. I’ve seen people with nothing but a doublewide, a Trans Am on blocks, some yellowing Good Housekeeping magazines, two coon dogs, and a collection of NFL thimbles to argue about take longer than this. Maybe Sir Paul McCartney and what’s-her-name served as an example to other celeb ex-couples in what to not do during a divorce.
But I’m glad to see that these poor boys have at least one relatively sane parent. Madonna, with her Twelve Commandments and her insatiable need to control everything around her, is soon going to find herself alone if she doesn’t watch it. I would bet my mortgage that Guy isn’t following her every silly rule to the letter, and when the boys get back home to her they’re going to miss being “normal” kids. Give ‘em a cheeseburger and some Nerf guns, for cryin’ out loud.
But it seems that Madonna is of the “Do as I say, not as I do” club when it comes to her kids. If you remember, one of her Twelve Commandments to Guy was that he could not let the boys talk to any of his friends, especially if they were female…implying that she didn’t want them getting chummy with any of his new girlfriends (of which there has been no evidence…perhaps Madonna is paranoid). Yet, it seems that her kids can get chummy with someone reported to be her new boy toy, as daughter Lourdes was possibly spotted out shopping with Alex Rodriguez. Hmm…control freak much?
And one more thing…remember the commandments that said the kids were only allowed to eat macrobiotic, vegetarian, and organic food, and were only allowed to drink Kablahblahblahlalalah water? Well, not sure that La Vina qualifies as macrobiotic or organic (although there are vegetarian choices on their menu), and they don’t offer Kabbalah water. But the kids sure looked happy when they were photographed going in. Oops, another commandment broken!
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Great post k, couldn’t have said it better. I bet Ritchie is feeling like he’s free as a bird from that crazy woman!
Comment by D — November 22, 2008 @ 3:34 pm
Ritchie is a doll, and appears to be a wonderful father. How he put up with the control freak for as long as he did is mind-boggling.
He must feel as if he’s been released from prison.
Comment by Rachel — November 22, 2008 @ 5:55 pm
Let’s face it. He knew what she was when he married her so he is no great shakes either. Anyway, best of luck to them.
Comment by Mary — November 22, 2008 @ 8:11 pm
But Madonna is a master manipulator. She can reinvent herself to be whatever she wants you to think she is at that moment. My theory is that she was infatuated with British things, she fell for Guy, made him believe she was something, and then when she got bored with it her “love” for Guy disappeared as well. Thus, she got rid of Britain, Guy, and anything English about her life.
Comment by k — November 22, 2008 @ 11:38 pm
Put a fork in it, she is done.
Who pulls the top hat look off better than Madonna? Alice Cooper of course!
The similarites are very though!
Have a look-see for yourself!
http://www.celebritygossip.com/public/celebrity_pictures/alice_cooper_25_7.jpg
Comment by BOYCOTT BOLT! — November 23, 2008 @ 9:05 am