Judge Orders Madonna’s Teen Son to Spend Christmas with Her

Larry Busacca/Getty Images
Larry Busacca/Getty Images

A New York judge has ordered Madonna’s teenage son with British filmmaker Guy Ritchie to fly to the United States to spend Christmas with her.

According to PEOPLE magazine, Madonna ordered her son Rocco, 15, to board a flight to New York from London, where he has been spending time with his father. The teen reportedly has no interest in going back to the U.S. to be with Madonna and disobeyed the order.

Madonna and her attorney appeared in court on Wednesday, where she won a bid to have her son forcibly sent home.

After hearing the case, Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Deborah Kaplan ordered Rocco back to New York.

Eric Buckley, an attorney representing Rocco, told Kaplan that Rocco “has expressed very clearly that he does not want to return to New York.”

At that point, a visibly agitated Madonna spoke up, but was quieted by her attorney.

Buckley then reportedly argued that Rocco is old enough to decide where he would like to spend his holidays.

Justice Kaplan asked, “Has he [the teen’s UK attorney] prevented the child from returning to the U.S.?”

Buckley replied, “Effectively, yes.”

Adressing Madonna directly, Kaplan said, “I’m granting you all the relief you have requested.”

Kaplan then said, “I’m directing the child to be returned to New York. If he wants to stay with his father, he must return to his mother.” The New York Daily News reports that Madonna “cracked a smile and nodded” at this.

A source close to the custody disagreement told Page Six Rocco “said he didn’t want to stay with her [Madonna]… He’s not getting along with his mom, which is not a surprise for a child that age.”

While Kaplan ruled in favor of Madonna, she also suggested Rocco have a discussion with his parents regarding a permanent living situation.

Upon his return to New York, Rocco will receive his own court-appointed attorney.

Madonna and Ritchie divorced in 2008, after seven years of marriage. The couple has two children: Rocco and 10-year-old adopted son David Banda.

Rocco recently spent several months traveling with Madonna on her Rebel Heart Tour.

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