Madonna flies to US to defend adoption

[buttmunch]

She has been put on the defensive after being accused of using her celebrity status to fast-track her adoption of a Third World baby.

So it was little surprise Madonna was clutching little David Banda protectively to her body as she launched a new offensive to convince cynics she saved his life by rescuing him.

As she flew out of Heathrow to the US today, she was preparing to go on TV three times this week to defend her adoption of the 13-month-old baby from Malawi.

The singing superstar has been widely criticised amid claims she used her global fame and a £1.7 million donation to the orphanage where he lived to speed up the adoption.

Madonna has said David's life was in danger from ill health at the time and claimed when she found him, no one from his family had visited him since he was placed in the orphanage at two weeks old - claims which have been denied by his father Yohane Banda.

The 48-year-old singer flew to Malawi with her husband Guy Ritchie a fortnight ago and brought David back to their London home.

Since the storm broke, she has already been interviewed by chat show host Oprah Winfrey to defend the new addition to her family.

And today, accompanied by David, her 10-year-old daughter Lourdes and six-year-old son Rocco, she travelled to the US for another round of interviews.

The move signifies a remarkable break in form for the star, who is usually reluctant to discuss her private life, particularly where her children are involved.

There was speculation she had been put on the defensive and was anxious to win round critics with her plans to appear on popular morning show NBC news, The Today Show and the evening entertainment programme Dateline.

YToday she was tight-lipped as she was rushed through airport security by police, accompanied by her children, their nanny and David, who was dressed in a bomber jacket and jeans. Her husband was not expected to travel with the party.

An onlooker said: "She was keeping a tight hold on David and seemed anxious to get through quickly. She was rushed through in about five minutes."

The trip means David will have clocked up than 12,000 miles in a couple of weeks - having previously been confined to a life in one of the poorest countries on the planet.

Madonna said she first discovered the baby because of her charity work in his country. She became smitten with him when she spotted him in a video shot at the orphanage.

The singer said she was told David's mother and three siblings had died of Aids while his father had never been to see him at the orphanage. The baby, she said, was suffering from pneumonia, malaria and tuberculosis and fighting for survival.

But Mr Banda, who initially agreed to the adoption, has denied her allegations and said he did not understand what he was doing at the time.

Critics have accused Madonna and her husband of virtually snatching David from his poor relatives, who live in mud huts and work the fields.

She denied she took a shortcut through the adoption process, telling Oprah: "It doesn't matter who you are or how much money you have, nothing goes fast in Africa.

"There are no adoption laws in Malawi. I was warned by my social worker they were more or less going to have to make them up as we went along."

She added her other children were "completely in love with their new baby brother."

Madonna and her husband have been granted an 18-month interim adoption by the Malawian government. After that time, when they will be monitored by a social worker, they will be allowed to legally adopt him.
She has been put on the defensive after being accused of using her celebrity status to fast-track her adoption of a Third World baby.

So it was little surprise Madonna was clutching little David Banda protectively to her body as she launched a new offensive to convince cynics she saved his life by rescuing him.

As she flew out of Heathrow to the US today, she was preparing to go on TV three times this week to defend her adoption of the 13-month-old baby from Malawi.

The singing superstar has been widely criticised amid claims she used her global fame and a £1.7 million donation to the orphanage where he lived to speed up the adoption.

Madonna has said David's life was in danger from ill health at the time and claimed when she found him, no one from his family had visited him since he was placed in the orphanage at two weeks old - claims which have been denied by his father Yohane Banda.

The 48-year-old singer flew to Malawi with her husband Guy Ritchie a fortnight ago and brought David back to their London home.

Since the storm broke, she has already been interviewed by chat show host Oprah Winfrey to defend the new addition to her family.

And today, accompanied by David, her 10-year-old daughter Lourdes and six-year-old son Rocco, she travelled to the US for another round of interviews.

The move signifies a remarkable break in form for the star, who is usually reluctant to discuss her private life, particularly where her children are involved.

There was speculation she had been put on the defensive and was anxious to win round critics with her plans to appear on popular morning show NBC news, The Today Show and the evening entertainment programme Dateline.

YToday she was tight-lipped as she was rushed through airport security by police, accompanied by her children, their nanny and David, who was dressed in a bomber jacket and jeans. Her husband was not expected to travel with the party.

An onlooker said: "She was keeping a tight hold on David and seemed anxious to get through quickly. She was rushed through in about five minutes."

The trip means David will have clocked up than 12,000 miles in a couple of weeks - having previously been confined to a life in one of the poorest countries on the planet.

Madonna said she first discovered the baby because of her charity work in his country. She became smitten with him when she spotted him in a video shot at the orphanage.

The singer said she was told David's mother and three siblings had died of Aids while his father had never been to see him at the orphanage. The baby, she said, was suffering from pneumonia, malaria and tuberculosis and fighting for survival.

But Mr Banda, who initially agreed to the adoption, has denied her allegations and said he did not understand what he was doing at the time.

Critics have accused Madonna and her husband of virtually snatching David from his poor relatives, who live in mud huts and work the fields.

She denied she took a shortcut through the adoption process, telling Oprah: "It doesn't matter who you are or how much money you have, nothing goes fast in Africa.

"There are no adoption laws in Malawi. I was warned by my social worker they were more or less going to have to make them up as we went along."

She added her other children were "completely in love with their new baby brother."

Madonna and her husband have been granted an 18-month interim adoption by the Malawian government. After that time, when they will be monitored by a social worker, they will be allowed to legally adopt him. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/liv...cc=picbox&ct=5

Interesting her hubby isn't with her. Don't tell me he's working on a new movie?

[aabbcc]

She denied she took a shortcut through the adoption process ...

I wish she'd quit saying that. The Canadian couple lived there for the required 18 months and are still having a hard time getting permission to take their child home [or has something happened with that?]. Madonna waltzes in, spends five minutes, and rushes away with a kid. Of course she took a damn shortcut. Does she think we're all stupid?

[LizaMarie]

...and to top it all off she hand-picked the child from pictures given to her as a result of her ''documentary'' that she's doing. If I find anything repulsive it's the image of her with all the pictures of different babies lined up in front of her, her saying ''I want that one'' then flying over, giving $3 million to the orphanage and walking away with him.

As said before, does she think the world is stupid?

[darksithbunny]

The 48-year-old singer flew to Malawi with her husband Guy Ritchie a fortnight ago and brought David back to their London home.

^^
Well that is not true. Her helper brought him to London.

And doesn't anyone else find it strange how David isn't a citizen of the UK or the USA but is going to be allowed entry to both countries so easily? I know people who have waited MONTHS to get the required visas/cards to just go to visit!

Yes, and I was thinking of that Canadian couple who had to follow the rules and laws and Madge didn't?

And did anyone see her on Oprah? I just wanted to slap Madge! You were born in Detroit! Stop trying to talk like an uppercrust English woman!

[buttmunch]

I missed that little gem. Was she really putting on the fake brit accent? She really needs to stop doing that.

[LizaMarie]

...one more thing I want to add, WHY is she ''defending'' herself only on US TV? Even though it's the UK that will have to give her the right to actually keep David and it is British Social workers who will be checking on him, not US ones (as far as I know anyway, simply because the UK Social workers were right on the scene when this all happened and were demanding to get access to check the baby was alright)

...lets just think about that for a minute. Where will she get more exposure? The US. Stuff the English media who were really the ones who brought this to the attention of the world in reality, they are not worthy of having Madge ''defend'' herself or explain why she suddenly turns up with a baby at Heathrow airport. Why not go on Oprah, where she KNOWS she will get a sympathetic ear, and talk to her. It's the US where she makes her REAL money so they are the ''fans'' who are worthy of explanation or rather the ''fans'' who Madonna needs to keep on side.

Obviously she still feels under siege and RIGHTLY SO. Going on every US TV programme that will listen to her does nothing other than raise the profile of the situation AND get her US fans (biggest fanbase) on side.

She genuinely doesn't care that this has happened, she's only frightened she'll lose US dollars. That's the way I see it anyway. She bought a baby to prop on her hip and she will only answer to the US critics. Disgusting.

[Sojiita]

Originally Posted by buttmunch

I missed that little gem. Was she really putting on the fake brit accent? She really needs to stop doing that.

[Bellatheball]

What is that old saying about protesting too much?

[Somerset]

^^Exacty Bella! Why is she so defensive all of a sudden, after almost half a centurty of happily being tabloid fodder? And the idea that she didn't take any shortcuts is just laughable. And yes, HER FAKE ENGLISH ACCENT WAS AT CRISIS LEVEL ORANGE.
Did anyone watch SNL this week? Borat did a monologue in the beginning and there was a hilarious line where he wanted to sell one of his infant sons to Madonna but he'd have to darken him up a bit at first.

[LizaMarie]

..she's already wrapped the kaballah band around the childs wrist.

[buttmunch]

HER FAKE ENGLISH ACCENT WAS AT CRISIS LEVEL ORANGE.

Did anyone watch SNL this week? Borat did a monologue in the beginning and there was a hilarious line where he wanted to sell one of his infant sons to Madonna but he'd have to darken him up a bit at first.

Double because when she first met Guy Richie and was trying to turn herself into some British princess type, she went on and on about how much she loved Sasha Cohen, which I never believed because I don't believe she actually has a sense of humor, particularly not one that would get British humor.

[Laurent]

Originally Posted by buttmunch

ouble because when she first met Guy Richie and was trying to turn herself into some British princess type, she went on and on about how much she loved Sasha Cohen, which I never believed because I don't believe she actually has a sense of humor, particularly not one that would get British humor.

I just spent the last 5 minutes confused thinking you meant Sasha Cohen the figure skater.

[buttmunch]

Well, I can see how that could happen...

[KrisNine]

Originally Posted by LizaMarie

..she's already wrapped the kaballah band around the childs wrist.

Nuh-uh...has she really??? Oh, this I have to see!!

[ediebrooks]

Why doesn't she just shut up about it? Then everybody else will shut up, too.