Representatives for U.S. pop star Madonna and British filmmaker Guy Ritchie have prepared a statement announcing their plans to divorce, The Sun reported.

The newspaper said the statement confirming the celebrities are ending their nearly 8-year-long marriage is to be issued "imminently."

The couple reportedly decided to announce the breakup because they "can't bear to live with the pretense any longer."

Ritchie has been on the promotion trail for his new film "RockNRolla" and is getting ready to shoot "Sherlock Holmes." His wife has been on tour supporting her latest CD "Hard Candy" and doing publicity for her own film, "Filth and Wisdom."

"It's very sad. They were a great couple and brilliant parents. They just couldn't live together any more," a source told The Sun. "Despite huge attempts to patch things up they both knew deep down that divorce was on the cards. It wasn't a matter of 'if' but 'when.' They tried hard over the last few months but their fighting was getting out of control."

The report said Ritchie plans to move out of their London home this week.