Madonna and Guy Ritchie are to end their eight year old marriage by Christmas, according to British newspapers The Sun and Daily Mail. The divorce was announced despite previous reports in which the couple denied that they planned to put an end to their relationship.

A spokeswoman for Madonna declined to comment on The Sun's story according to which the couple would announce the split "imminently." The publication quoted a "highly-placed source" as saying Madonna, 50, and Ritchie, 40, "just couldn't live together any more" and could "no longer bear to live with the pretence" of being happily married. This summer, amid rumors regarding Madonna's “friendship” with Alex Rodriguez, it was reported that their marriage was essentially over but that the two would wait until her "Sticky and Sweet" tour was over.

It appears that earlier this year, the singer denied being involved romantically with New York Yankees baseball player Alex Rodriguez. But Rodriguez was eventually divorced from his wife. Call it a coincidence, if you wish.

Moreover, arguments over the amount devoted to their career and Madonna's wish to adopt another child seem to have destroyed the couple's attempts at reconciliation "like a sledgehammer." The couple has two sons together: Rocco, 8, and David Banda, 2, a Malawian orphan they adopted last year despite controversy that they had violated international adoption laws. Madonna also has a 12-year-old daughter, Lourdes, whose father is her former personal trainer, Carlos Leon.

The British Press Association said that Guy Ritchie has canceled his filming in France to fly back to the U.K. to inform his parents about the split. He is currently working at a major Hollywood blockbuster "Sherlock Holmes" starring Robert Downey Jr.