Madonna Louise Ciccone is one of the greatest 'material girls' of our time! As one of the world's greatest pop icons, she has incorporated her mastery of the material world into her live performances and her image. She's been doing so for decades and it seems like she'll be doing it forever.
For the legendary pop star, the line between reality and performance has blurred at times, especially when it comes to her personal life. Madonna was married to director, Guy Ritchie, for eight years. They were together in the Oughties, and the dissolution of their marriage got more than a little press attention.
The media had a lot to say about her divorce, just as the media has a lot to say about 'Madge's' many career moves and reinventions! There was a lengthy custody battle over their children, and Madonna and Guy had very cold communications. This former golden couple is composed of two strong-willed people who definitely struggle to co-parent peacefully.
Here are 20 hidden truths Madonna and Guy wanted to keep quiet!
20 An Injury Kickstarted Their Pain
It goes without saying that supporting your spouse through thick and thin is recommended after tying the 'eternally binding' knot...especially when times get tough!
We know it can be easy to feel testy sometimes during the more difficult phases of a marriage, but, metaphorically speaking, Madonna and Guy Ritchie needed extra umbrellas.
When Madonna took a tumble while on tour and broke several bones, Guy felt stifled.
19 Guy Didn't Get His Girl
Madonna once begged a man to open his heart to her, way back in the Eighties; Madge has always been an advocate for open communication!
In real life, she had the same desire to connect, but the reality wasn't so great. During her marriage to Guy, the two experienced differences due to having clashing personalities, especially when it came to empathy. Guy struggled with an inability to be there for Madonna emotionally, on the scale that she needed.
18 Madge Was 'Hung Up' Creatively
We all know Madonna as an iconic entertainer who has recorded and performed decades of catchy tunes...and spearheaded some of the most memorable fashion looks of the last century! However, the Madonna we know wasn't the Madonna her then-husband, Guy, knew behind closed doors.
The "private" Madonna was faced with a sticky situation. She and Guy didn't see eye-to-eye over her public image; Guy was actually uncomfortable with her artistry.
17 Guy Believed In Money Over Marriage
To outsiders, this marriage between a director and pop diva seemed like a life of total luxury and endless financial security. The former Mr. and Mrs. Ritchie held opposite opinions concerning their financial assets and how important money was to them.
Financial issues often put a strain on relationships! These issues had a hand in driving Madonna and Guy apart.
Guy wasn't subtle at all when he said, "I'm glad I made money."
16 Divorce Rocked Rocco's World
Regardless of celebrity status, being a child of divorce can produce so many intense emotions. When children have famous parents, it's even harder for kids to put a filter on how they're feeling, because of all the media exposure!
Madonna and Guy's eldest son, Rocco Ritchie, didn't like being dragged into arguments between his warring parents, during Madonna and Guy's very public divorce. Rocco wasn't shy about his feelings; he cited "stress" in legal documents.
15 Lyrics Showed How Much Love Was Lost
Madonna is no stranger to revealing lyrics and she has an uncanny ability to tell a story, no matter how subtle or intricate the story is.
If you haven't heard a Madonna song as meaningful as "Papa Don't Preach," rest assured that Madge is still sprinkling a lot of deep meaning into her newer lyrics!
Madonna really opened up when she provided fans with a glimpse into her and Guy's deteriorating relationship.
14 'Dress You Up' Had Meaning In The Ritchie Household
Little did Madonna know that, while recording her classic pop tune, "Dress You Up," the literal meaning would eventually hit a little too close to home for her future husband!
Madonna devotees are likely thrilled to discover that she takes her title of iconic style icon so seriously, but she never let Guy forget who was the most fashionable in their household.
Guy once jokingly revealed that he "never wore the same dresses" as his famous wife.
13 Madonna Needed Middlemen
Madge has a reputation for being very open about private matters, but she had to get used to no longer having a direct line of communication with her former husband. The line of communication basically shut down after the duo began to experience difficulties.
Tension mounted when they stopped speaking to each other entirely; according to StyleCaster, Madonna and Guy "Relay(ed) messages through friends hoping it will get back to the other."
12 Madge Thought There Was More To Love
Falling in love, Madonna-style, is about 'living to tell' detailed and candid romance stories through the years. Just think about how candid she has been!
As heartbreaking as it may be to hear, the romance in Madonna and Guy's relationship dwindled and Madge had lots to learn. According to Newsweek via Glamour, she pondered love and its 'perfect' perception. She revealed that 'cracks in the veneer' began to appear.
11 Guy May Have Been Kept In The Dark
What's the deal, dear?
By the middle of Madonna and Guy's marriage, the public suspected that there was trouble in paradise for this duo, but the question is...was Guy aware of what was really happening?
There was an air of mystery over Guy's answer to a question about the happenings in their marriage. When asked if there were problems in his marriage, he responded, "...not that I'm aware of."
