Madonna Makes Rare Comment on “Painful” Guy Ritchie Custody Battle

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Madonna is reflecting on a difficult time in her life.

Almost a decade after her very public fight with ex-husband Guy Ritchie regarding their son, Rocco, who is now 25, the singer of “Hung Up” shared that it remains a deeply painful memory for her to revisit.

During the Sept. 29 episode of On Purpose with Jay Shetty, Madonna shared that one of the most difficult times in her life was a custody battle over her son. She explained, “Someone trying to take my child away from me felt like they might as well just kill me-that’s how strongly I felt.”

Actually, the 67-year-old shared that the fight over her son’s upbringing-which started when he was a teenager and chose to live with his father in London while she was on her Rebel Heart tour in 2015-was even more upsetting than her 2008 split from the director of Snatch.

“Many marriages unfortunately fail,” Madonna explained. “People often marry someone they aren’t truly compatible with. They simply aren’t a good match, and aren’t meant to be together.”

For the seven-time Grammy winner-who is also a mother to Lourdes Leon, 28, with Carlos Leon, and her adopted children David, 20, Mercy, 19, and twins Stella and Estere, 13-the situation was especially difficult as she continued her 82-date tour during the legal dispute with Ritchie.

She remembered having to perform on stage each night. “I would lie on the floor of my dressing room, crying,” she said. “I honestly believed everything was falling apart. I just couldn’t cope.”

The legal dispute started in December 2015 when Rocco, who was 15 at the time, unexpectedly chose to live with his father in London instead of accompanying his mother on tour. TopMob News reported that Madonna and Ritchie, married for eight years, then spent months in court fighting over the situation. They eventually reached an agreement in June 2016, and Rocco returned to New York.

“I’m so grateful that’s over,” Madonna continued, reflecting on the six-month time frame during her On Purpose conversation. “Ultimately, I had to learn from those experiences.”

Even though she and Rocco were going through a difficult time in their relationship, they managed to strengthen their bond. As the singer, known as “Material Girl,” explained, “I’m now really good friends with my son.”

For a deeper look into Madonna’s family, keep reading… 

I remember when Madonna first met Carlos Leon! It was back in September 1995, while she was jogging in Central Park. She really fell for him quickly – he was a Cuban American personal trainer who was starting to act, and they just clicked.

Filming for Evita-a part Madonna really wanted and worked hard to get-had just begun the next year when she found out she was pregnant.

“This is not exactly how I envisioned starting a family,” she told Vanity Fair in April 1996.

I always understood her comments were about how incredibly busy she was with filming, and not about her relationship status – whether she and the baby’s father were married or not. It wasn’t about conforming to what society expected back then, either. She was simply focused on her work, and that’s what really mattered. It wasn’t about those things at all, despite what people speculated. It was simply about the demands of her schedule.

Madonna responded to claims that she intentionally caused a stir with her actions, stating, “Some people have suggested that I have done this for shock value.” She added, “These are comments only a man would make.” She explained that the challenges of pregnancy and raising a child make it unlikely someone would do so for trivial or attention-seeking reasons. She also addressed rumors that the father was only used for procreation, saying, “There are also speculations that I used the father as a stud service.”

Having been married to Sean Penn from 1985 to 1989, she expressed no interest in retying the knot.

Madonna stated, “I think many people would feel better if I were to marry and then get divorced.” She added, “I feel divorce is viewed more favorably by society than being a single mother.”

On October 14, 1996, she welcomed her daughter, Lourdes Leon. Shortly after, a few months later, she received a Golden Globe award for her performance as best actress in a musical or comedy.

Madonna and Leon did break up in the fall of 1997, but they made co-parenting work.

Madonna explained to Vanity Fair in 1998, referring to her daughter by her nickname, that she is always there for Lola and they have a good friendship. “And I’m really pleased with how things are,” she said. “It wasn’t easy, but we eventually reached this comfortable point.”

Regarding motherhood, Madonna explained, “I felt that having a child would be deeply healing… mainly because I grew up without a mother. I simply knew I was destined to have a daughter, and I felt a natural, strong desire for her. However, I had no idea what the experience would actually be like.”

Lourdes had some early opportunities thanks to her mother-she performed as a flower girl at the 2003 MTV VMAs and provided backing vocals on the 2012 song “Superstar” from the album MDNA-but she’s also built her own career as a model and singer, performing under the name Lolahol.

Lourdes went to a performing arts high school in New York, where she was classmates with Timothée Chalamet – they even dated! She independently financed her higher education, beginning at the University of Michigan and finishing her degree at Purchase College in NYC.

In a 2021 interview with Interview, she shared with her mom’s close friend Debi Mazar that her family didn’t believe in giving handouts. She acknowledged, ‘I definitely had a privileged upbringing – there’s no question about that.’ However, she explained that her mom intentionally raised her and her siblings to avoid the pitfalls she saw in other children of famous people, saying, ‘She didn’t want us to end up like that.’

Speaking about forging her own path, she explained to The Cut in 2022, “I want to earn what I get and not just have things handed to me…People benefiting from nepotism often come across poorly, and my parents instilled in me the importance of being better than that.”

Madonna’s British era began in 1998 when she started dating filmmaker Guy Ritchie.

Earlier that year, the singer shared with VF that she wanted to have another child, explaining, “I’d prefer to be in a committed relationship first. It would be nice to have someone to bounce ideas off of-to ask, ‘What do you think we should do?'”

She and Guy had a son, Rocco John Ritchie, on August 11, 2000. They named him after an Italian uncle of Madonna’s and Guy’s father.

A few months later, Madonna revisited the idea of getting married, and she and Guy exchanged vows in Scotland on December 22nd. This happened the day after their son, Rocco, was baptized.

Following Madonna and Guy Ritchie’s divorce in 2008, they agreed to share parenting responsibilities for their son, Rocco. He often accompanied his mother on tour when she was performing.

He “jumped in front” of her to be part of what was happening, Madonna explained on Good Morning America in 2013. She added that Rocco had grown “a foot taller” in just one year and, even though he was still under 13, he was preoccupied with “checking out girls.”

She added appreciatively, “He’s the showboat in the family.”

In 2012, Rocco joined Ellen to talk about his mother, Madonna, describing her as “a good mother” who was “very strict, but in a good way.”

After a few years, Madonna and Guy changed their agreement about where Rocco lived, so he could spend more time with his father in London. Guy also has three other children with his wife, Jacqui Ainsley.

All grown up now, Rocco is a full-time artist and cofounder of the London gallery Maison Rhed.

“Moving to London really changed my life,” explained the Royal Drawing School graduate to Vogue Hong Kong in 2022. “It happened at just the right time – I was growing up, transitioning from a teenager to an adult, and it motivated me to pursue my interests while also challenging me to step outside what was familiar. I was lucky to have a clear idea of my goals early on, and once I started art school, it really got my career going.”

Prior to becoming known in the art world, Rocco worked and exhibited his paintings for a number of years using the name Rhed.

It’s not that I’m ashamed of who I am,” he explained. “Actually, I’m incredibly proud of my parents – everything they’ve accomplished and the values they’ve instilled in me. I simply needed time to grow and learn from my own experiences, as they did, without facing harsh public scrutiny.

Rocco met his girlfriend, Olivia Monjardin, while they were both students at Central Saint Martins in London. She accompanied him to the U.K. premiere of his father’s Netflix series, The Gentlemen, in March 2024.

In October 2006, Madonna adopted David Banda (born September 26, 2005) from the Home of Hope orphanage in Lilongwe, Malawi.

This action, much to her surprise, created a significant uproar, as critics claimed she essentially took a child away from their family.

In an interview with NBC News shortly after my daughter was born, I was surprised by the negative reactions I received,” Madonna said. “I anticipated some people might think it was a publicity stunt. However, I wasn’t prepared for accusations of kidnapping or anything illegal. I certainly didn’t expect to be demonized for it.”

While all of that was happening, David was thriving. The singer explained, “He has a quick temper, but he’s also very charming. Plus, he’s incredibly funny! He’ll definitely bring his own experiences and personality, and I’m excited to see what he contributes and how he develops.”

(Speaking to the BBC, David’s birth father, Yohane Banda, explained he was “very happy” about David’s adoption. His wife had sadly died during childbirth, and he said, “as you can see, there’s a lot of poverty here, and I know he’ll be very well cared for in America.”)

As a longtime admirer, it feels surreal to think it’s already 2023 and David is turning 18! I remember when Madonna first wrote about meeting him almost 18 years ago in Mchinji at the Home of Hope Orphanage. She said his name means ‘Speak the truth,’ and honestly, she couldn’t have picked a more fitting name for such a talented artist! It’s been amazing watching him grow into the truly remarkable person he is today. We’re all so incredibly proud of him!

Despite appearing as a couple throughout the adoption of David, Madonna and Guy Ritchie had separated by the time Madonna was honored with her induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in March 2008.

She explained to a German magazine that they had both let go of hoping for a perfect relationship. She’d stopped believing he would be the perfect husband, and he’d stopped expecting her to be the ideal wife.

After her initial adoption experience went smoothly, Madonna went back to Malawi in 2009 and adopted her daughter, Mercy James, who was born on January 22, 2006.

And she was put through her paces yet again.

Madonna recounted to People in 2017 that officials who disagreed with the adoption used her recent divorce as justification for claiming she was “not capable of raising a child.” Her legal battle ultimately reached Malawi’s Supreme Court before she was finally able to bring Mercy home. She described the treatment she received as “that sexist behavior-was ridiculous.”

However, Madonna ensured her children stayed connected to their roots by bringing them back to Malawi for visits and by starting the charity Raising Malawi.

“Beautiful Mercy James,” Madonna shared when her daughter, a promising musician and gymnast, turned 18 in 2024. “You’re growing up so fast-already a young woman! Beautiful African Queen!! You’ve really surprised us all!”

In February 2017, Madonna adopted twin sisters, Estere and Stella, from Malawi. She met them at the same orphanage where she had previously found her son, David. Both girls’ names mean “star” and they were 4 years old at the time of the adoption.

I often found myself closing my eyes and wondering, ‘Why doesn’t my kitchen have kids dancing around in it?’ There are so many children who need a loving home,” she explained to People. “I realized, ‘Why am I hesitating? I should just go for it.’

This time, she openly admitted she made the decision with input from her four older children, asking for their thoughts on growing their family.

Madonna remembered that Mercy and David were thrilled. As for Lourdes and Rocco, it wasn’t necessarily jealousy, she explained, “but getting used to the idea.” Ultimately, everyone came around to support the decision. Lola even told her, “Mom, if that’s what you want and it’s going to make you happy, let’s do it.”

In 2022, Lourdes shared that when she thought about her relationship with her siblings, she realized she only ever had disagreements with her brothers.

“They can be really annoying sometimes,” she shared with Debi for Interview. “A brother who’s 15 or 20 years old? Come on, we’re bound to argue. But Mercy and I have never once fought. She’s always supported me, and I’ve always done my best to be a good big sister to her. It’s more challenging with the twins, though, since I don’t live at home anymore.”

Madonna has said she’s “blessed” that her children all have artistic passions.

She explained to the fan blog Madonna-Infinity that Lola has had an amazing journey, beginning with ballet and rhythmic gymnastics, then moving into musical theater and contemporary dance. Now, she’s a truly original singer and songwriter. She added that there’s nothing that makes her happier on tour than knowing everyone is collaborating to create something special together.

“Naturally,” she continued, “being their mother means we occasionally irritate each other. We’re a family of artists, but we’re also just a family, and that’s to be expected.”

It felt like a natural fit to Madonna to feature all of her children who currently live with her in her The Celebration Tour, a look back at her career. She described the decision as making “perfect sense“.

David began playing guitar when he was young, she said. Mercy has been playing piano since age 8 and has focused on classical training throughout her life. After I adopted the twins, they also started learning piano and dance… Then, we added deejaying to the mix, as Estere was very eager to learn.

Stella is very shy, Madonna observed, but she truly shines when performing. She’s also remarkably talented as an artist, Madonna added, and she hopes Stella will be inspired by Rocco. He started out as a B-boy, skater, and graffiti artist, but has developed into a fantastic painter.

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2025-09-29 22:24