A new docuseries about Alex Rodriguez has addressed his explosive 2008 split from his ex-wife Cynthia Scurtis amid wild claims he cheated on her with Madonna.
Less than three months after Scurtis gave birth to the couple’s daughter Ella, the marriage was rocked by allegations that Rodriguez was involved with Madonna.
The baseball superstar firmly denied the rumors at the time, as did Madonna, who was still married to her second husband Guy Ritchie.
However Scurtis promptly filed for divorce citing ‘the husband’s extramarital affairs and other marital misconduct,’ pouring fuel on the speculation.
Now on the latest episode of the HBOÂ show Alex vs ARod, Scurtis implied he was unfaithful to her ‘when Ella was first born’ – as a 2008 New York Post headline flashed onscreen reading: ‘A-Rod and Madonna Squeeze Play.’
‘At that point, we got divorced,’ explained Scurtis, although neither she nor Rodriguez ever referred to Madonna directly while discussing their breakup on the series.
The Daily Mail has contacted representatives for Madonna, Rodriguez and Ritchie for comment.
A new docuseries about Alex Rodriguez has addressed his 2008 split from his ex-wife Cynthia Scurtis amid wild claims he cheated with Madonna; Rodriguez and Scurtis pictured 2006
Less than three months after Scurtis gave birth to the couple’s daughter Ella, the marriage was rocked by allegations that Rodriguez was involved with Madonna (pictured November 2008)
Rodriguez was already a famous MLB player when he married Scurtis in 2002, and they soon welcomed two daughters – Natasha in 2004 and Ella in 2008.
The image as a couple suffered a public blow when Rodriguez and a mystery blonde were glimpsed visiting a Toronto strip club in May 2007.
‘He seemed to be extremely apologetic and not proud of his actions,’ Scurtis said while discussing that scandal on the new docuseries.
She then said a ‘similar scenario’ unfolded ‘when Ella was first born’ – and at that point the New York Post headline about him and Madonna appeared onscreen.
In the docuseries, Rodriguez stopped short of confessing to any affairs outright but acknowledged that he ‘could have been more loyal’ to his ex-wife.
‘In hindsight, I could have been a better husband. I could have been more present,’ he said. ‘I could have been more sympathetic, empathetic, all of it, you name it.’
Scurtis filed for divorce in July 2008 immediately after news broke of Rodriguez’ alleged romantic ties to the Express Yourself singer.
At that stage, Scurtis’ attorney accused Rodriguez and Madonna of conducting ‘an affair of the heart’ rather than engaging in ‘sexual infidelity,’ but nevertheless said that their supposed relationship was the ‘last straw’ for his client, via People.
The baseball superstar firmly denied the rumors at the time, as did Madonna, who was still married to her second husband Guy Ritchie; Madonna and Ritchie pictured 2008
Rodriguez was already a famous MLB player when he married Scurtis in 2002, and they soon welcomed two daughters – Natasha in 2004 and Ella in 2008; the family are pictured in 2008
Scurtis’ divorce filing stated that the marriage was ‘irretrievably broken because of the husband’s extramarital affairs and other marital misconduct.’
Rodriguez meanwhile categorically maintained that his bond with Madonna was strictly platonic, saying: ‘We’re friends. That’s it,’ to People.
Madonna also denied she and Rodriguez were having an affair, and went on to shoot down claims that she had induced him to develop an interest in Kabbalah, a form of Jewish mysticism she has been associated with since the 1990s.
‘I have nothing to do with the state of his marriage or what spiritual path he may choose to study,’ the singer insisted in an official statement.
However a friend of Rodriguez’s claimed the baseball player said he was ‘in love with’ Madonna and described her as ‘my f***ing soulmate, dude,’ per Us Weekly.Â
Madonna is pictured in a recent Instagram post promoting her follow-up to her fan favorite 2005 album Confessions on a Dance Floor
Rodriguez is pictured last week attending an event at Nasdaq HQ in New York City
Scurtis said on the new HBO show: ‘I knew that he had his own demons and I was hoping he would get help. I was hoping that it could end differently than it did.’
She recalled that Rodriguez ‘was really upset’ over the collapse of their marriage ‘so that affected me. But at the same time, I think I felt a sense of freedom.’
Meanwhile Rodriguez shared: ‘The day we filed for divorce, I think we were playing the Red Sox. On that day, I hit a home run.’
The New York Yankees legend reflected: ‘Maybe baseball, the field is where I escape. I get to be the best version of myself, at least at that time.’Â
Madonna and Ritchie announced their own separation in October 2008, three months after Scurtis filed for divorce from Rodriguez.Â
