Pop diva Madonna and her husband, British filmmaker Guy Ritchie, are to divorce and they are going public with their split soon.
The couple can’t bear to live with the pretence any longer. A statement confirming their marriage is over has been prepared and is set to be released imminently, reports thesun.co.uk.
They have had a string of shouting matches about the amount of time each devotes to their careers, and over Madonna’s desire to adopt another child.
These arguments smashed through their attempts at reconciliation “like a sledgehammer”.
“It’s very sad. They were a great couple and brilliant parents. They just couldn’t live together any more,” said a highly-placed source.
Pals say Madge, 50, initially wanted to wait until next year to announce their separation – after her Sticky and Sweet global tour is finished.
But now she and Guy, 40, want a divorce finalised before Christmas, which would have seen the eighth anniversary of their fairytale wedding in a Scottish castle.
Guy has flown back from France, postponing filming of his new movie Sherlock Holmes, to break the news to his parents.