Madonna's 'Queen of Pop' tiara slips

2 months ago 19th Jul 08:15

As Madonna approaches her 50th birthday this August, you can't help but wonder who is actually going to be on the party guest list.

Recent reports in the tabloids suggest husband Guy Ritchie may struggle to get an invite after the pair have been rumoured to be heading for a divorce - which also rules out baseball star Alex Rodriguez, who she is rumoured to be having an affair with.

One person who will definitely be excluded from the celebrations is Madonna's brother Christopher Ciccone, after his revealing book 'Life With My Sister Madonna' slammed his estranged sibling as "poisonous".

So with some of the most important people surrounding her possibly ruled out of the celebrations, the 'Queen of Pop' looks set to be toasting her half-century alone.

But, in reality, Madonna's relationships with the men in her life are probably not as bad as they seem.

Following divorce rumours, the 'Give It 2 Me' singer released a statement denying the claims, while friends revealed she was "furious" at reports she was cheating on her husband.

Madonna's statement read: "My husband and I are not planning on getting a divorce. I know Alex Rodriguez through Guy Oseary, who manages both of us. I am not romantically involved in any way with him. I have nothing to do with the state of his marriage or what spiritual path he may study."

However, despite the strong denial, rumours of a failed marriage are raging on.

The pair have been seen holding hands and enjoying family days out with their seven-year-old son Rocco and Madonna's 11-year-old daughter Lourdes, as well as visiting New York's Kabbalah Centre together to worship the religion, a mystical offshoot of Judaism.

But eagle-eyed onlookers have spied the couple are still not wearing their wedding rings, and sources claim Madonna is waiting until after her upcoming 'Sticky and Sweet' world tour to announce the divorce news.

However, according to friends, the couple are determined to make their marriage work, and have agreed to spend more time together.

Gym-obsessed Madonna has even promised to cut her workouts down from four to three hours a day.

So is Madonna really so hard to get on with?

Well, according to Christopher - yes.

As soon as it seemed Madonna might get a break from the intense media attention, Christopher slyly released his new book before the singer's lawyers could apply for an injunction to prevent its release.

Christopher's autobiography of his time with Madonna reveals a life of ill treatment from the 'Material Girl' singer, who he alleges "loves herself and her career" more than her family.

"The woman I loved above all others, the woman I thought was incredibly creative and loving has surrounded herself with sycophants who do nothing but agree with her and who, I feel, have poisoned her against me," Christopher writes. "The Madonna I once knew is lost to me for ever. I am sorry for her, and us."

Christopher - who directed Madonna's 1991 documentary 'Madonna: Truth or Dare' - also claims Guy's intense dislike of him stems from his "homophobic" attitude towards gay people and even says the 'RocknRolla' director tried to drive a car at him.

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