Seemingly indestructible after reigning supreme as the Queen of Pop for over four decades, fans were shocked when news emerged recently that Madonna had been rushed to hospital and transferred to intensive care as her family “feared the worst”.
The mega-star – who’ll celebrate the 40th anniversary of her first self-titled album later this month – was reported to have been found unresponsive at her New York home after a severe bacterial infection.
Now, as more speculation emerges that Madonna, 64, may have been ignoring a month-long fever and signs of exhaustion while she battled through 12-hour long daily rehearsals for her now-postponed Celebration Tour, that was due to launch in Canada this week, a source says that her family have been holding crisis talks over how to care for her.
And while the singer has been surrounded by her loved ones, including her six children – Lourdes, 26, Rocco, 22, David, 17, Mercy, 17, and twins Stella and Estere, 10 – our insider reveals how her ex-husband, film director Guy Ritchie, has also reached out to offer his undivided support.
The source says, “Guy was totally shocked by this news, he reached out immediately and said he wanted to help however he possibly could.
“He’s offered to drop everything and fly out to New York if she needs him, which Madonna really appreciates even though she’s surrounded by loved ones and has more practical support right now than she knows what to do with.
“Guy’s not taking no for an answer though – he’s proud that their son Rocco has teamed up with his siblings to support their mum, and will help in any way he can.”
The former couple were married at Scottish Skibo Castle in 2000, in a ceremony that, while incredibly private, had celeb guests including Donatella Versace and Stella McCartney, with Gwyneth Paltrow as Maid of Honour.
But while Madonna and Guy, 54, appeared the perfect match – welcoming Rocco in 2000 and David Banda, through adoption, in 2006 – the pair divorced after eight years citing “irreconcilable differences”.
At the time, Madonna said that without her musical career she may have “thrown myself off a building”.
Four years later, she again opened up about their split, saying, “When you start off, everything’s great and lovely, and the person you’ve married is flawless and you’re flawless. Then time goes by, and you share a life, you have children and there are cracks in the veneer.”
However, in 2016, their divorce – during which Madonna reportedly paid Guy a £59 million settlement – turned bitter when the former lovers were locked in a custody battle over Rocco’s wish to live permanently in London with his father.
They have since clashed twice more, in 2015 and 2019, over where their son would spend Christmas.
And while Guy has said their eight-year marriage is “definitely not something I regret”, he also described his showbiz life with Madge as a “soap opera”.
But while their relationship may have suffered its fair share of drama, Madonna and Guy have both since moved on.
While Madonna is said to have been dating boxer Joshua Popper, 29, since March, Guy has been married to actress Jacqui Ainsley, 41, since 2015, and the pair have three children – Rafael, 11, Rivka, 10, and Levi, nine.
And the source says that due to the close relationship between Jacqui and David – who she praised on Instagram last year for the “extraordinary light” and “joy” he brings their family – Guy and Jacqui are both in agreement over helping Madonna in her time of need.
The insider adds, “He and Jacqui both feel terribly for her. They know this chaotic life means she’s in perpetual motion and rarely gets any quality downtime to herself.
“Madonna is also very wary about who to trust and doesn’t delegate too much when it comes to childcare. That’s where Guy wants to come in, with Rocco and possibly Jacqui helping out too.
“One way they can help is to take care of her kids for a while and take them over to England where they can bond with their step-siblings and Madonna can have a well-earned break.”
While taking on the star’s youngest children would mean juggling a household of nine kids in their sprawling English manor house in Wiltshire – which Guy bought with Madonna back in 2001 – the source says he will do whatever it takes.
They add, “It’s very clear to him and all those in Madonna’s world that this has been a life-threatening situation and a serious ongoing ordeal that will take her a while to recover from.
“For all of their differences she’s still the mother of his first-born child and a force of nature – he truly respects her and that’s why he wants to help any way he possibly can.”