AFP
LONDON — Pop superstar Madonna and her former British husband Guy Ritchie denied an “inaccurate” report that she had agreed to pay him up to 60 million pounds ($92 million, R918 million) in a divorce deal.
But the former couple, who were granted a “quickie” divorce last month, said they were “happy” with the terms of their separation, stressing that the welfare of their children was the most important factor to them.
“We have tried to maintain a dignified silence regarding the details of our divorce for the last few months whilst accepting the obvious media interest,” they said in a joint statement.
“A misleading and inaccurate statement, specifically in relation to the sums of money involved, was wrongly issued” earlier this week, they 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 wellbeing of our children.”
The statement came after reports Tuesday quoting Madonna’s spokeswoman Liz Rosenberg that Ritchie would receive between 76 and 92 million dollars (49 to 60 million) in cash and property in the divorce deal.
Madonna and Ritchie were granted a “quickie” divorce at London’s High Court on November 21 on the grounds of his unreasonable behaviour, a month after announcing their eight-year marriage was over.
A decree nisi is a provisional decree of divorce and must be followed by a decree absolute about six weeks later which legally dissolves the marriage and means that the couple are free to marry other people.
The couple’s two sons, Rocco, eight, and three-year-old David Banda — whom they adopted in Malawi — will split their time between Britain and the US under the terms of the divorce, reports said.
Madonna’s 12-year-old daughter Lourdes, from a previous relationship with fitness trainer Carlos Leon, is set to live with her mother in the US.
Courtesy: thetimes.co.za