Is Madge, Guy Ritchie's split a publicity stunt?

New York, Oct 16 : Although Madonna and Guy Ritchie's marriage had effectively been over for months, the public announcement of their divorce is a publicity stunt to rake in more moolah for the singer's worldwide "Sticky and Sweet" tour, according to sources.

Sources have revealed that tension had been brewing for long between the two, but they preferred to keep it under wraps, only to disclose it at the right time to cash in on the publicity.

Speculations have been rife that The Material Girl's marriage with the filmmaker has been over for some time and the couple are simply friends. In fact, TMZ has reported in July itself that the couple would announce their split sometime in November or December.

But orchestrating the public split now is all part of a mastermind publicity stunt to make money for Madge's tour that could rake in over 300 million dollars.

The couple reportedly plan to use the cash to secure their children's financial future.

"She is simply playing the media - and the public - as usual," The New York Daily News quoted a pal, as saying.

The news of the split was broken by Madonna's rep, Liz Rosenberg, on Wednesday.

ANI