The father of Madonna's daughter LOURDES was stunned to hear the pop superstar was divorcing husband Guy Ritchie - insisting he found out at the same time as the rest of the world.
The Material Girl star and her moviemaker husband confirmed they were to split on Wednesday (15Oct08) after months of speculation surrounding the state of their marriage.
The pair had been under intense media scrutiny since the summer (08) amid rumours she indulged in an affair with New York baseball star Alex 'A-Rod' Rodriguez.
Madonna denied having an affair with Rodriguez, insisting rumours of a split with her director spouse Ritchie were untrue.
But the couple were forced to admit their marriage had come to an end following further speculation in British newspaper The Sun.
And Carlos Leon, father of Madonna's 12-year-old daughter Lourdes, insists he wasn't told about the divorce before it hit the headlines - claiming he doesn't get involved with that side of his former lover's life.
He tells The Billy Bush Show, "I heard it when you heard it. That kind of the stuff like, 'Whoa!' I stay away from, even if she wasn't my friend.
"It's none of my business really. So I stay away from it. All I know is I support Madonna and Guy and of course my daughter and all the children as best I can."
And fitness trainer Leon reveals his daughter was kept hidden from the media circus which followed the announcement, because she was quietly celebrating her 12th birthday with him in New York.
He explains, "She was with me. We celebrated quietly… It was quite nice actually."
And Leon insists any divorced parents should take note from his relationship with Madonna - because remaining friendly with an ex is always best for any kids involved.
He adds, "Parents should learn from us in that way. Any parent that stays friends, it's really good, it's good for the children, it's good for family values, it's good for a lot of reasons…You gotta keep it mutual and try to keep it cool."