Carlos Leon on Daughter Lourdes: "We Talk Every Day"

Though rumors about pop singer Madonna‘s personal life continue to swirl, her daughter Lourdes Maria, with ex-boyfriend Carlos Leon, is living her life as normally as the child of a pop megastar can.

"Look at me and the way I live: I ride my bicycle, I walk, I don’t havea driver," says Carlos. "That’s how I keep her [Lourdes] grounded. Her mom does agood job too — she’s not that person that everyone thinks. She’s verylaid back and cool."

Carlos and Lourdes, or "Lola" as he calls her, are often photographed together on the streets of New York City. The proud pop says the father-daughter bond has strengthened as Lourdes, 11 ½, has aged.

She’s at that point where she can call me and say, ‘Hey Dad, what’sup? What time are you going to get me?’ It’s really cool. We talk every day.

The two even share a love of music, swapping tips on favorites like Alicia Keys, Audioslave and Beck. "I like everything she listens to," says Carlos.

As for who is doling out the parental discipline, Carlos claims most of that responsibility falls onto Lourdes’ famous mom:

It’s hard for me to be the tough guy with my daughter. Maybe I should work on the discipline stuff, but I couldleave her mother to do that!

Source: People.com; Photo by MLM/FAME.

Comments

It is nice to see a father and a daughter building their relashionship. However, when he claims he doesn’t have a driver and that he walks everywhere and that is how he keeps Lourdes ‘grounded’, he is omitting the fact that they always have Madonna’s security personnel following them around.

- aNNA on July 24th, 2008

Lola & her Dad have always been close, which is why I like to see him acknowledged! Madonna has always said that Carlos is a big part of her life, that she talks to him everyday, etc.

- Natasha on July 24th, 2008

I DO NOT KNOW HOW A NORMAL OF A LIFE YOU CAN HAVE WHEN YOUR MOM IS MADONNA !!! LOURDES ALWAYS HAS A CAMERA IN HER FACE! WHAT IS NORMAL ABOUT A CHILD HAVING HER OWN PERSONAL STYLIST AND RECEIVING 500.00 FACIALS! OH WELL! THAT’S LIFE FOR SOME! LOL.

- GINA on July 24th, 2008

aNNA, it may be necessary for her to have a bodyguard–she’s the daughter of one of the most famous women in the world, and there are a lot of nuts out there. I’ll bet there are times the family wished they didn’t need them.

- Tricia on July 24th, 2008

She certainly has a style going there…lol!

- Jen on July 24th, 2008

I remember hearing after lourdes was born, madonna wanted him to sign away his rights and she would pay him off, but he said no and always wanted to be involved with her. You can see on a lot of sites, pics of carlos with lourdes, he seems like a good dad

- brooke on July 24th, 2008

oh yes, Lourdes is a style champ! she would probably pooh-pooh this *old* photo

- Sasha on July 25th, 2008

I find it interesting that the common perception of Carlos is that he wasn’t much more than a sperm donor. Madonna has refuted that claim & states that she and Carlos were in a loving, committed relationship when Lola was conceived.

I don’t believe for one minute that Madonna tried to pay him off in exchange for his parental rights. Madonna has always expressed the importance of having both parents around, particularly because she lost her mother as a child. I see no evidence that points to her ever being anything but supportive of Carlos and Lola’s relationship.

- gargoylegurl on July 25th, 2008

I thought her name was Lourdes Maria Ciccone Leon?

- Sara on July 25th, 2008

I agree with you gargoylegurl.

Madonna has always stated she was in love with him when they decided to conceive Lola. Carlos has always been involved in Lola’s life, it’s just now that he is followed more and photographed more often. I don’t think Madonna would ever pay him off and rob her daughter of that relationship, especially considering how hard it was for her losing a parent, her mother, when she was only 5 years old. Additionally, Carlos and Madonna have had wonderful friendship even after they broke up.

- Lilly on July 25th, 2008

Another thing, having bodyguards is necessary because hordes of paparazzi, along with other questionable characters, always follow Lola and Madonna’s other children even when she is not with them.

- Lilly on July 25th, 2008

I just love, love, love Madonna!!! She is the most fabulous celebrity in the world!!! Her kids are so lucky to have her as their mother. Keep on dancin’

- chloe on July 25th, 2008

dude carlos is hot…wish he was my dad

- nadz on November 6th, 2008