Madonna’s ‘protective’ boyfriend Josh Popper’s future plans with her revealed after ‘his support’ through health scare
MADONNA’S romance with boyfriend Josh Popper is going strong after he supported her through her recent health scare, The U.S. Sun has been told.
The Queen of Pop, 65, is believed to have begun seeing heartthrob boxing coach Josh, 30, early this year before the couple were spotted together on social media in February.
Since then, Josh has been there for the Like A Virgin star through difficult times after she was hospitalized in June due to a bacterial infection.
Madge was found unconscious in her New York apartment and later said she was “lucky to be alive.”
It forced her to postpone her world tour, which finally gets underway tomorrow Saturday at London’s O2 arena.
Now, a source close to Madonna’s camp has told The U.S. Sun that after more than six months together, she is counting on Josh to take care of her long into the future.
The insider said: “The consensus among Madonna’s friends who really care about her wellbeing and check in on her every week is that despite the age difference, Josh is a positive influence on Madonna.
“He’s protective of her, and there’s no indication at all that he’s after her money.
“He has his own career and his own economics that were working just fine for him before Madonna came into his life.”
Josh had a brief NFL career in 2016 and 2017 before moving on to work selling insurance.
He also appeared on Bravo reality show Summer House in February.
He is understood to have met Madonna while training her son, David Banda, at his boxing gym Bredwinners in New York.
Although they have appeared on each other’s social media accounts, neither of them have spoken publicly about the relationship.
But the source says that Josh appears to be well-suited to deal with the craziness that comes with being Madonna’s man, especially when compared to some of her previous relationships with A-list stars.
The pop icon has previously been married twice, first to actor Sean Penn and then British movie director Guy Ritchie.
The insider said: “Josh seems like a genuinely gentle soul who isn’t going to freak out like Sean Penn anytime a photographer gets too close.
“That’s really the key to sharing a life with Madonna – being cool under pressure and never letting them see you sweat.
“In that department, Josh has proven himself to Madonna and now it’s all about going the distance.
“When the time is right, you have to believe that Josh is going to want to make things official.
“Even in the months they’ve been together, Josh has seen some pretty crazy stuff, like the postponement of Madonna’s tour, and hasn’t blinked.
“He’s stayed by her side and he’s been supportive, and that’s been absolutely great for Madonna.”
Madonna’s Celebration greatest hits tour will see her perform more than 40 of her best known songs.
Her musical director Stuart Price told this week how the show will draw on four decades of archive footage and studio recordings to tell the story of her career.
Asked whether the mom of six is looking to make things official with Josh, The U.S. Sun’s source said: “Is Madonna happier and healthier as a married woman than a single mom on her own? Historically that has been the case.
“Has Madonna ever rushed into a relationship? Not in the last thirty years.
“She is very careful about who she spends her time with and there’s was a long ‘proving’ period that Guy and several of her exes went through before Madonna even started living with them.
“The big thing Josh responds to with Madonna are her notorious high standards, for herself, her kids, and especially for the people she surrounds herself with.”