What a Guy! Ritchie Calls Madonna a "Great Mum"

Brit lends his support to ex-wife's bid to adopt, which was rejected Friday; "Madonna is a fantastic and loving mother," he says

Turns out Guy Ritchie isn't one to kick Madonna when she's down.

Despite the wild assortment of less-than-flattering adjectives the duo supposedly used to describe each other in the days following their divorce announcement, Ritchie has lent some positive support to his ex in light of a Malawian court's refusal to grant her a second adoption.

"Madonna is a fantastic and loving mother who cares deeply about her own children and children who may need additional help and support," the British filmmaker said in a statement Friday.

"I fully supported Madonna in her decision to apply for this adoption, and I am saddened that her application has been rejected. She is motivated only by being a caring parent who seeks to share some of the advantages and opportunities that her life has given her. This time it did not work out, but there will be other opportunities, and I wish her well in them. She is a great mum."

The former spouses, who have one biological son together, adopted the now 3-year-old David Banda in 2006 when, contrary to what happened Friday, the Malawian government opted to waive the usual mandatory 18- to 24-month residency requirement for people looking to adopt a child from the African nation.

Madonna's legal camp has already appealed today's ruling.

(Originally published April 3, 2009, at 3:30 p.m. PT)