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MADONNA’s ex-husband GUY RITCHIE reportedly gave up custody of the couple’s children to avoid splitting up the family.
The pop superstar, whose divorce from Ritchie was finalised in January (09), is said to have won permission from the courts to temporarily keep their two sons - Rocco, eight, and adopted three-year-old David - in her native U.S.
But Ritchie, who reportedly wanted the children to stay in England, is now said to have stepped aside, not contesting Madonna’s custody bid so the boys can be raised alongside their older sister, Lourdes, 12, - the singer’s daughter from a previous relationship - who will remain with her mother in New York.
A source tells British newspaper the Daily Mirror, "He has always put Rocco and David’s future ahead of his own and that is why he has relented. He is adamant that he wants to keep the boys and their sister together. He does not want to tear the family apart from each other. Rocco and David will still see a lot of them.
"He is already making plans to visit the children in America and looking at the possibility of them having holidays in England." The couple announced their separation in October (08) - with the superstar citing Ritchie’s "unreasonable behaviour" as reason for divorce - and was granted a preliminary split on 21 November (08).

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RICK ROSS has challenged rap rival 50 CENT to go back into the studio and record a new lyrical attack - because his musical response to the HUSTLIN’ star’s latest insult is "garbage".
Ross first hit out at the G-Unit general - real name Curtis Jackson - in his song Mafia Music, when he referenced a fire which ravaged a home owned by 50 and lived in by the rapper’s son and ex-girlfriend last year (08).
He rapped: "I love to pay ya bills, can’t wait to pay ya rent/ Curtis Jackson baby mama, I ain’t looking for a cent/ Burn the house down, you gotta buy another/ Don’t forget the gas can, jealous, stupid muthaf**ker." 50 Cent then hit back with the track Officer Ricky (Go Head, Try Me), in which he pokes fun at Ross’ history as a prison officer, a career move he initially tried to deny but eventually confessed to in October (08).
But Ross has dismissed the response, referencing 50 Cent’s upbringing in New York, where hip-hop first came to the fore, and criticising the quality of his work.
In an interview with satellite radio station Shade 45, Ross says, "I heard that, but I was positive that couldn’t be the response. You got to be f**king joking New York City. It’s the Mecca of hip-hop right? That can’t be the f**king response. You insult Mafia Music like that. We gone all act like we didn’t hear that garbage. We gone give you another 48 hours. Go back in the lab, and come up with something else."

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PUSSYCAT DOLLS star NICOLE SCHERZINGER has vowed to counsel BRITNEY SPEARS through all of her personal problems - using the power of prayer.
The singer, a close friend of Spears, is set to hit the road with the pop superstar last this year (09) when the Pussycat Dolls open for the singer on her upcoming Circus world tour.
And Scherzinger hopes their time together will be productive.
She says, "Britney is a good friend of mine. I’m looking forward to getting together and having some quiet prayer meetings with her. And I’ll be there to talk through whatever she is going through. She has been through a tough time and it’s important to get together to pray and meditate."

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SIR PAUL McCARTNEY reportedly scrapped plans for a 2009 world tour - because he couldn’t bear to be parted from his five-year-old daughter BEATRICE.
The former Beatle is currently promoting his latest album Electric Arguments, which was released under his alter-ego, The Fireman, last year (08).
And McCartney is said to have planned a series of live dates across the globe in connection with the LP, but subsequently put the idea on hold so as not to disrupt his everyday routine with his youngest daughter, from his relationship with ex-wife Heather Mills.
A source tells British newspaper the Daily Express, "Paul and Beatrice have a real routine going, there’s no way he’ll disrupt that. Paul has enjoyed touring in the past but right now the priority is definitely Beatrice. He couldn’t bear the thought of being away from her for any stretch of time so a full-length tour is out. He much prefers doing one-off shows." McCartney was recently announced as the headline act for the upcoming Coachella festival in California in April (09).

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Actor ROBERT DE NIRO’s upmarket restaurant chain Nobu is reportedly close to settling a $2.5 million (£1.7 million) lawsuit over staff tips.
Two waiters sued Nobu in 2007 on behalf of hundreds of workers at three of its exclusive New York restaurants, Nobu, Nobu 57 and Nobu Next Door, claiming they were forced to share tips with management and were not paid overtime.
Now company owners, including De Niro, chef Nobu Matsuhisa and others, have agreed to settle the lawsuit, according to court papers filed on Friday (30Jan09).
Current employees and ex-employees who worked at the three restaurants between August 2001 and August 2008 will reportedly receive an average of $3,300 (£2,200) each.

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Stars including MARY J. BLIGE, JAY-Z and CHRIS ROCK have gathered at a party in New York to toast the health of hip-hop mogul ANDRE HARRELL - who recently underwent heart surgery.
The rap entrepreneur and founder of now the defunct Uptown Records label was recently admitted to hospital for a quadruple heart bypass operation, which is performed to relieve angina and reduce the risk of death from coronary artery disease.
The 48-year-old is now recovering following the surgery, and organised a star-studded party at his New York home to celebrate his return from the hospital. Guests also included Warner Music chairman Lyor Cohen.
One partygoer tells New York Post gossip column PageSix, "Andre said he was happy to be alive and happy to have all of them as his friends, particularly Sean Combs, who was there at the hospital when he was put under for surgery, and there when he came to in the recovery room."

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ANGELINA JOLIE could soon be reunited with her ex-husband onscreen, if BILLY BOB THORNTON gets his way.
The former couple married in 2000 after meeting on the set of 1999 movie, Pushing Tin. They adopted seven-year-old son Maddox together, before divorcing in 2003.
Jolie went on to a relationship with fellow Hollywood star Brad Pitt, and the couple now has six children together.
But Thornton maintains that he is still on good terms with his ex, and hopes they will soon make another film together.
He says, "I’d like to do another movie with Angie one of these days. We talk all the time. She and I will keep looking for something to do together; we just have to find the right thing." Jolie was previously married to British actor Jonny Lee Miller, the former couple wed in 1999 and separated a year later.

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Outspoken comedienne ROSEANNE BARR is urging BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN to use his upcoming appearance at the Super Bowl to protest against the bloodshed in the Middle East.
The Jewish actress has publicly condemned Israel’s role in the recent attacks on the Palestinian-held Gaza strip.
And Barr wants the rocker to do the same by making a political protest when he performs at the big game, between Arizona Cardinals and Pittsburgh Steelers, on Sunday (01Feb09).
She writes on her website, "The Boss oughta demand during his half-time appearance this Sunday that Obama stop bombing Pakistan . . . and stop funding the Israeli war machine! Tell Obama to . . . make Israel stop bombing Gaza!!!!"

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Makers of TONI COLLETTE’s new TV comedy series UNITED STATES OF TARA have come under fire - after allegedly causing $400,000 (£275,000) worth of damage to a restaurant.
The owner of a BBQ restaurant in San Fernando Valley is suing the makers of the Showtime programme, claiming a day’s worth of filming at his eatery in September (08) caused the roof and ceiling to collapse.
According to TMZ.com, owner Un Suk Yun claims in court documents that "due to many heavy movie machine’s pressure, the roof and ceiling came down" and he was forced to shut down the restaurant for two weeks.
Bosses of the show, which follows the life of a housewife with dissociative identity disorder, have yet to respond to the allegation.
No further details were available as WENN went to press.

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Animated hit KUNG FU PANDA was the toast of the 36th annual Annie Awards on Friday (30Jan09) night - triumphing in 10 categories.
The 2008 picture, starring Angelina Jolie and Jack Black, took the top gong for Best Animated Feature beating out competition from fellow Oscar contenders Wall-E and Bolt, as well as Waltz With Bashir and $9.99.
The film also picked up prizes in the Animated Effects and Production Design categories amongst others, while Dustin Hoffman was presented with the Best Voice Acting award for his role as red panda Shifu.
Other winners at the ceremony included TV show Futurama which landed the Best Animated Home Entertainment Production prize, while Wallace & Gromit: A Matter of Loaf and Death was named Best Animated Short Subject.

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An Italian writer has filed suit against the makers of Oscar-nominated movie THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON - accusing film bosses of stealing her idea.
The Brad Pitt-starring film, which has garnered 13 nods at the upcoming Academy Awards, tells the story of a man who ages backwards and is said to have been inspired by a 1921 short story by legendary author F. Scott Fitzgerald.
But now Adriana Pichini, an office worker from Rome, Italy, has launched legal action against the studios behind the picture, claiming it is in fact based on a story she wrote 15 years ago, titled Il ritorno di Arthur all’innocenza.
Pichini’s work was registered with the Italian copyright authorities in 1994 and sent to publishers in the U.S., but never hit the shelves.
The case has been opened by the Rome Tribunal Court, which means a judge will watch the movie and read the story. An investigation will be launched if the judge determines there are enough similarities to warrant a full court-approved enquiry.
Pichini has named the film’s producers as well as Hollywood studios Paramount Pictures and Warner Bros. Pictures in the suit.

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A Los Angeles judge has ordered Hollywood actress RENEE ZELLWEGER to turn over her diary as part of an ongoing insurance battle over her hit movie CINDERELLA MAN.
The star requested a $3 million (£2 million) payment from film insurance bosses after her co-star Russell Crowe suffered a dislocated shoulder and delayed filming on the 2005 picture by seven weeks.
However, executives at the insurance company claim Zellweger is not party to the $6 million (£4.1 million) which has already paid out as a result of the delay.
Zellweger - famous for her role in Bridget Jones’ Diary - must now give a deposition and hand her own journal over to the court, alongside any other documents proving her whereabouts during the downtime.

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Pop newcomer LADY GAGA is defending her wild wardrobe choices - insisting she’s trying to make men think harder about what’s sexy on a woman.
The Just Dance hitmaker admits she toils endlessly to coordinate her eye-popping outfits, trademark blonde locks and dark glasses.
And Gaga understand she is sometimes considered unsexy, because her revealing wardrobe picks aren’t designed to attract male attention like other female chart toppers such as Britney Spears.
She says, "A girl’s got to use what she’s given and I’m not going to make a guy drool the way a Britney video does. So I take it to extremes. I don’t say I dress sexily on stage - what I do is so extreme. It’s meant to make guys think: ‘I don’t know if this is sexy or just weird.’"

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British singer JEM has accused her record label of allowing "politics" to force her career into a state of limbo.
The They hitmaker finished recording new album, Down to Earth, back in 2007, but bosses at Sony have sat on it for two years before finally scheduling a February (09) release.
The 33-year-old apologises to fans for making them wait so long, insisting "it’s not my fault".
Jem says, "It feels like a long time, only because it was supposed to come out in 2007 and I was frozen liken Hans Solo for two years during label politics. I had to stop recording halfway through the record and then start again and finish it so it’s been longer than I would’ve wished. But it wasn’t my fault, it wasn’t me."

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AMERICAN IDOL host SIMON COWELL has denied contestants on his reality TV shows are rewarded with poorly paid contracts - insisting all finalists go on to earn thousands of dollars as a result of his hit programmes.
Cowell recently came under fire after a British newspaper reported that finalists on his U.K. talent show X Factor were signed up to a country-wide tour after the show wrapped last year (08) - but were being paid as little as $360 (£250) per gig.
But the music mogul is adamant that the figures given are not correct, revealing that most artists who reach the final stages of the competition will be handed a hefty pay packet at the end of their run.
He says, "I don’t mind being cast as the pantomime baddie - but I am very fair in business. It is not slave labour. I won’t go into the precise figures because that is confidential but these people will earn about £50,000 each on the X Factor tour. For any kid who wants to get into the music business and hasn’t got a recording contract - it’s a good deal. To put them in front of 16 million viewers over a period of time and then pay them £50,000 for three months work? That is not a bad deal."

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Actor DENZEL WASHINGTON has been named America’s favourite movie star for the third year in a row.
The Training Day Oscar winner triumphed over Hollywood legend Clint Eastwood, who came in at two, and the late John Wayne and Hitch star Will Smith, who are tied in third place on The Harris Poll.
Indiana Jones action hero Harrison Ford landed fifth place, while Julia Roberts, Tom Hanks and Johnny Depp also make the list at numbers six, seven and eight, respectively.
Angelina Jolie and Morgan Freeman round out the top 10 - they are tied in ninth.

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GOLDIE HAWN is plotting a movie comeback and wants to star alongside her A-lister daughter KATE HUDSON.
Hawn has been in acting retirement since finishing her last movie, 2002 comedy The Banger Sisters.
But sources claim she is ready to return to the big screen at the age of 63, and wants her 29-year-old daughter as a co-star.
An insider insists the pair are considering a number of projects, telling the National Enquirer Hawn is "looking for something current and modern".

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BRITNEY SPEARS has reportedly secured a restraining order to protect her from her former manager SAM LUTFI and ex-boyfriend ADNAN GHALIB.
The singer sent her lawyers to a California courthouse on Friday (30Jan09) to petition for the order, after telling her conservators - who include her father Jamie - she was afraid of them both, according to TMZ.com.
The website’s sources claim the move was prompted by Lutfi’s attempted legal attack on the conservatorship, which Britney has now been permanently placed under following a series of public meltdowns.
It’s the second time Spears has sought a restraining order against Lutfi, who many blame for the series of emotional crises that lead to her losing custody of her two sons with Kevin Federline.
Spears dated paparazzo Ghalib after her split from Federline. Hollywood gossips recently suggested the pair were still in contact and that she had even written a new song about him, claims she subsequently denied.
The move comes just weeks before Spears seals her music comeback with a tour, that kicks off in New Orleans, Louisiana in March (09).

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