Celebrity News

Madonna’s tumultuous custody battle for her son

Madonna and her ex Guy Ritchie are in a heated international custody battle over their 15-year-old son Rocco.
Madonna

The Queen of Pop expected her 15-year-old son Rocco to return to New York ahead of Christmas, but instead of flying to his mum he stayed in the UK with his film director father, Guy Ritchie.

When Madge found out the news, she went straight to court where a New York Supreme Court judge ordered Rocco to return to stay with his mother.

Guy’s lawyer maintained that Rocco was adamant about staying in the UK, saying he “has expressed very clearly that he does not want to return to New York.”

As a consequence, a London judge determined that the issue will be revisited in a New York court in February where the teenager will make his case.

Rocco with his step-mum Jacqui (left) and dad Guy Ritchie (right). Photo: Getty.

According to TMZ sources close to Madonna, Guy Ritchie is responsible for driving a wedge between Rocco and his mother.

The divorcees have long had a “volatile” relationship, and their conflict has often centred on their eldest son. Madonna is reportedly “very controlling” and a “strict disciplinarian” they said, which Rocco doesn’t like.

Guy Ritchie and Madonna in happier times. Photo: Getty.

Since the original feud, it seems that the battle has moved to Instagram where both parents tried to prove who had the better Christmas.

Guy’s new wife of six months Jacqui Ritchie posted this ‘With Love From the Ritchies’ throwback photo from the couple’s wedding day to the social media platform. Rocco can be seen to the right of the newlyweds.

Guy Ritchie with his new wife Jacqui Ritchie, sons David and Rocco to Madonna, and the newlywed couple’s own children Rafael, Levi and Rivka. Photo: Instagram.

Madonna, on the other hand, showed off snaps of her enjoying time with her other children on Christmas Day.

“She needs a moment!” Madonna wrote of 19-year-old daughter Lourdes. Photo: Instagram.

“X -mas Fierceness,” Madonna called this pic of son David. Photo: Instagram.

“Mercy James knows whats up!” the mum of four penned. Photo: Instagram.

She also wished her eldest son a Merry Christmas, despite the custody battle.

“Merry X-mas to the Sun-shine of my Life! OXOOXOXO” Madonna captioned this snap of her with Rocco. Photo: Instagram.

Guy and Madonna, who have shared custody over their sons Rocco, 15, and David, 10, divorced in 2008 after 8 years of marriage.

Rocco is the first birth child for Ritchie and the second for Madonna, who has a 19-year-old daughter, Lourdes with actor Carlos Leon.

The now-estranged couple adopted David from Malawi in 2006.

Madonna went on to adopt another child from Malawi, daughter Mercy James, in 2009; she is now 9-years-old.

Madonna and Guy Ritchie with Rocco at his baptism in 2000. Photo: Getty

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