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Madonna Dearest
It was just about two weeks ago that the first reports surfaced that Madonna was adopting an African baby. Now, the adoption is being challenged by African child welfare organizations that claim Malawian law was side-stepped for preferential treatment, the child’s father is claiming that he was duped into signing away parental rights and Madonna finds herself immersed in a controversy that may be the least welcome of her career.
With controversy swirling, what is a sincere woman to do but… go on Oprah, of course! Like good mothers in similar circumstances the world over, Madonna set up a satellite feed into the Chicago studios of the Oprah Winfrey Show so that she could decry the evil influences of media while utilizing… well, media. If you didn’t see it, you missed a masterwork of public relations. The ploy was clever in that it allowed her to raise the specter of a villain who is disliked even more than she is — the media — while setting up a necessary ally in her attempt to discredit the boy’s father, who has claimed she duped him into approving adoption when he only wanted foster care.
It was a delicate dance for the aging hoofer and she almost pulled it off. Asked by Winfrey to recount the circumstances surrounding her interactions with the father, Madonna was careful to point out that Malawian law requires next of kin approval when an orphan is up for adoption, but people in the orphanage weren’t sure whether the child even had a father since he had never visited the child all the time he was institutionalized — even when the baby was fighting off malaria [didja’ get that? He’s a bad father.] But she couldn’t go too heavy on a poor uneducated third world man who has already claimed to have been roughed up by her, so that’s where the media comes in. “I believe the press is putting words in his mouth,” she proffered in a sympathetic tone, “Terrorizing him”. To which Winfrey signaled how her audience should see the issue by saying, “Yes.” Madonna then said, “the media has brought nothing but chaos to his life.” She, of course, had nothing to do with it.
Apparently there has been some issue about whether she cherry-picked the kid, who is not HIV positive, from an orphanage with many who are. I assume this because when Winfrey asked her a simple question about his health she launched into an extended story about how she had chosen him from a photograph long before she ever knew anything about his health and HIV status. Prep from her handlers was a little obvious on that one. For the most part, though, she hit on the points she intended to make: Malawian law unclear, father confused by press, kid will grow up with lots of benefits and return to Malawi whenever he wants. She seemed very frustrated by the whole mess.
I don’t doubt for a minute that she’s surprised at the public second-guessing of her generous act. Living so far inside her own head (”I don’t read newspapers or watch television,” she told Winfrey) she cannot imagine that others have a view of her that she hasn’t created for herself. When Angelina Jolie adopts a black child no one’s alarm bells go off because it is in keeping with a consistent pattern of commitment that she has made to people in the third world in many public forums for many years. But the Madonna adoption, like so many of her interests, seemed to pop out of nowhere. It was for this reason that one of her talking points on the Winfrey show was to make clear that she has been thinking about Africa for a whole 2.5 years: her “attention” got “turned” to Africa during around the time of the Live 8 concert. Since then she has invested in development efforts there led by Columbia economist Jeffrey Sachs and it was during this period that she decided to adopt and became aware of the child she calls David. She denies copycatting Angelia Jolie — never even met her she says — but, honestly, would she even know if she was copying her? This is a woman who built a career on borrowing from others (”Vogue”) and making it her own.
To the public, the woman who has dabbled in any number of personas — trying lifestyles and personalities on like hats — reads as inauthentic in everything she does. One minute she’s appearing in a book of soft-core porn and saying she won’t be satisfied until she’s “bigger than God” (and even that was remodeled from John Lennon’s “Beatles are bigger than Jesus”), the next minute she’s calling herself Esther and preaching Kaballah, then she’s tricked out in English squire riding gear and writing quaint children’s books, followed by a stint on the cross for a stage show. It’s not that maternal generosity seems out of character for her as much as that there doesn’t seem to be any consistent character there at all, besides one rooted in narcissism. Why shouldn’t people look closely when her latest incarnation, saviour of black children, cuts so close to so many areas of sensitivity and affects people who are innocent of manipulation?
Issues of going around Malawian law and/or social tradition aside, all that really matters here is what is best for the kid and intentions are not nearly as important as outcomes. Her fundraising for social programs is a good thing and for all we know Madonna may be the world’s greatest mom. The only people who can speak to that are too little to speak at this point in time. But they won’t be forever…
Posted in Blather 10/25/06 | 
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THANK YOU for this cogent and comprehensive assessment. Adopting [read: exploiting] other people’s music, fashion or dance style and claiming it as your own to maintain relevance in popular culture is one thing, but adopting a whole person is beyond belief. Talk about a sense of entitlement and her outrage at her motives being challenged is as out of touch as the act itself. I think I can safely read stuff about this ridiculousness without my head blowing of my shoulders now.
Comment by MAK — October 26, 2006 @ 6:19 pm
I think it is absurd to harp on the subject of Madonna and this innocent child she has generously adopted. Here is the bottom line people….poor child taken out of a third world country where he probably would have died is now in the lap of luxery. Why would anyone wish he’d go back to that non-life….get a grip!!!Move on.
P.S. I love the Dixie Chicks!!Rock on girls!!
Comment by Leigh — October 26, 2006 @ 6:48 pm
Excellent! Even your photograph updated for Madge is perfect. For anyone who doubts all of this good will towards Africa just give it time. If Madonna starts competiting with her daughter or trying to control Lourdes’s life, it should be interesting to see what happens if this little girl ever writes a book about Mom and how Mom needed to save her marriage (to Guy Ritchie) and her image as part of Mom’s compulsion towards gaining attention at all costs.
I think at that time we’ll all find out who Madonna really is. Give Lourdes another 10 years and let her get fed up with Mom’s s**t enough to sit down at a PC one night and tell us what we just may already know.
Comment by Mohdee — October 27, 2006 @ 1:04 pm
Generously adopted!?! how about the line she gave that she was drawn by his smile?…where did that smile come from?….his natural parents and his environment during his short life which now is a thing of the past. If she truly wanted to be altruistic, she, with a miniature fraction of her money could have helped this father raise his child and visit whenever……truly be a benefactress to this child. Be genereous?….adopt a child who has absolutely NO ONE in his/her life. She went shopping and chose what SHE wanted, that’s all. No generousity there.
Comment by Carol B — October 27, 2006 @ 1:19 pm
OMG Madonna adopted a child that easily could have died.. he will loved, educated, and wealthy.. what a monster that madonna is..
Comment by Rob — October 27, 2006 @ 2:28 pm
i guess it’s more fun and easier to make fun of people than it is to praise them. why is everyone so cynical these days? and it’s not just about madonna, it’s about everything. very sad.
Comment by Jake — October 27, 2006 @ 5:23 pm
Madonna has been an influence to not only the general public , but to a multitude of other celebraties, singers, songwriters, dancers, fashions designers, marketers, record companies. Its flattering that you put so much pressure on her to be the only human being who can not be inspired by others, shes sold over 200000000 albums, she has the most #1 dance songs in history, she is the highest earning live female ever in history, shes generated almost 1/2 a billion in just the last 6 years in tickets sales alone, she’s just proven with Confessions on a Dance Floor that she is a hugely commerical & criticaly relevant. Success in every country & every lanaguage, Confession is one of the top 5 albums of 2006 with over 7mil sold.
Madonna is the only contemporary artist who has embrassed all races, gays, all genders, income levels, She stole for vouge?, She made vouge world famous with one word, what things like this stay sealed up in a vault in the barrio, whats your reasoning. Well were at it lets discount & forget about the countless gays she has kept from turning inward & leading to someplace awful because of the hatred spewed towards them by society.
I get it you were supposed to pick where Madonna adopted, the race? Its clear your perspective is scured by your own self hatred, dont forget your words are a clear reflection.
I have never known Madonna to dabble. She is the only one who can turn herself inside out from top to bottom & be convincing. She doesnt represent a race or a lifestyle. Its obvious she has an unending well of talent, thoughts, ideas, & you can tell she can be inspired from anything by a soda can rolling in the road to spiritual revelations. Shes sees the life & energy in everything & this makes her the all valueable self-reliant & extemely strong.
Comment by nic — October 27, 2006 @ 6:03 pm
Why are you advertising a personal blog, and criticizing Madonna for narcissism? Why are you advertising a personal blog at all?
Comment by Annabella — October 27, 2006 @ 6:19 pm
Nic, I ran your comment through Babelfish but I still don’t know what the hell you said. I take it you like Madonna.
Jake, I agree with you there is too much cynicism in the world — but we’re not talking about Mother Teresa here. We’re talking about MADONNA. As I said in the article, the actions she is taking are good ones. Good actions are good actions, period. But this girl comes to her latest adventure in humanitarianism with a lot of baggage of her own making. She shouldn’t be surprised that people are a little wary of her.
Annabella, I’m advertising a personal blog because I can. But you’re right, I’m a narcissist just like Madonna. Exactly equivalent, actually. In fact, I’m going to call my friend Oprah right this minute and book time on Monday’s show so I can explain myself.
Comment by Sprague Dawley — October 27, 2006 @ 6:20 pm
Nic, is your long tedious post supposed to bore us into submission? there’s so much propoganda in that piece, if you’re not on Esther’s payroll, you sure as hell should be.
Comment by theoriginalbitch — October 27, 2006 @ 6:21 pm
Only when the public wakes up to how we are ‘bamboozled’ by politicians, celebrities for their own benefit will things change. Thank you for your article.
Comment by kelley — October 27, 2006 @ 8:49 pm
Are you kidding me? You really believe this dad? He dumped the kid in foster car and had not seen him in over a year. He has no rights!
Comment by lonestar — October 27, 2006 @ 9:35 pm
I think the fact that Madonna couldn’t wait to have pics taken of her doing the ‘Angelina baby in an African sling’ thing was very telling. She should’ve/should lay low and just bond under the radar of public view—-but no, the woman just can’t help herself. She’s got a long way to go in terms of personal evolvement and it starts with getting over herself.
Comment by dorothea — October 28, 2006 @ 2:04 am
No matter what Madonna is like as a person, she sure can’t be worse than life in that orphanage.
Comment by Xarro — October 28, 2006 @ 2:33 pm
hmm, if i had millions of dollars, i’d adopt some poor kids too and try to give them a better life. perhaps u should watch hotel rwanda and then open your ignorant yaps about how great life is there for those kids who get left behind. yep, just like disneyland, just hotter, and with no food, water, clothing, clean air, rides, etc., etc.
Comment by brokenangel — October 28, 2006 @ 3:58 pm
Well sir, its quite obivious that you, like so many men in the world, are driven by your penis. It just drives some people crazy that Madonna does what she does and is successful at it! Why cant you just let her do her thing, whether its making music, changing her hair color, adopt 3rd world children, or put her tits on her back for gods sake, but shut the hell up and let the rest of us who obviously love Madonna enjoyher and what she does. Its really sad when you take an interview that she did with Oprah on a very emotionally charged issue, and pick it to bits even dissecting her words and looking for some hidden agenda behind everything! It sickens me to hear people like you vomiting at the mouth with absolute trite and bullshit!!! I’m sure everyone reading this who doesnt have their head up their ass would totally agree with mer when I tell you sir, you are full of shit!!!! Now @#$* off!!!!
Comment by Marc M-Toronto, CA — October 28, 2006 @ 5:05 pm
Thank you for such eloquence over such a heated and ridiculous topic! I read this and said, ‘I couldn’t have done it better.’ BRAVO!
Comment by gwen pederson — October 28, 2006 @ 5:39 pm
I used to be the biggest Madonna fan in the world - kind of, but the recent years and actions of that lady have clearly opened my eyes to what a pretencious piece of s**t she really is. You should have seen that dull Confessions-Show of hers, where she was pissing me of with how bad things are in Africa while at the same time aiming for world record in selling tickets and having the biggest earnings ever with a concert tour. As far as I can remember, not one of my 107 Euro, that I paid for the ticket,went to any humanitarian organisation. She`s just a sad person…
Comment by Levony — October 28, 2006 @ 5:52 pm
Well, all I can say is that you’ve hit that nail very squarely on the head.
I’m relieved to see that I’m not alone in thinking that this move is part of a never-ending ploy to stay in the public eye.
Comment by Josie R. — October 28, 2006 @ 7:22 pm
Might not sound like a whole lot, but when a person wears philosophy and principles like fashion accessories and dumps them when they’re not really hip anymore, there’s something deeply f*cked up with that person, and doesn’t make that person really credible.
Example? Fur and Madonna
Comment by Terry — October 29, 2006 @ 1:06 am
This case is just too bizarre for words. Its now reported that the father did visit the David regularly and so did his grandmother and uncle. The uncle saw the boy on a daily basis. also, a south african, again according to the orphanage’s director, was interested in adopting David before Madonna arrived on the scene. According to the director, Madonna was smitten with the boy and wouldn’t be detered. [Link]
As for Marc, dude lighten up. If you like Madonna, like her but you can’t be so childish to think that she should be allowed to do whatever the hell she wants because she warbles a song and knows how to push buttons. Personally, I don’t love her or hate her, liked her music say 20 years ago, find it painfully grating today. I, like many others, see something very suspect in this adoption. [Comment edited -SD]. Grow up.
Comment by theoriginalbitch — October 29, 2006 @ 1:59 pm
Madonna is Shamaeless. Everything and I mean everything is done for money and to cover her ass. Some are and have always been watching and things hidden will always come out. Madonnas days are numbered just like everyones elses. She will have to account for everything she does and has done. She will also have to pay those she deprived alohng the way on her journey that fully was not hers to procure.
Comment by karen alexander — October 30, 2006 @ 10:19 am
She is and has always been one LUCKY bitch! No talent just luck mixed in with smart people surrounding her. She has no interest in what is good for the child, only sees what she wants and gets it. I will wait patiently until the children grow up and then we shall see the light.
Comment by Minska — October 30, 2006 @ 10:48 am
you should thank madonna for giving you something to write about. please, you along with her both work for the “entertainment industry”, so why act surprised and indignant over her use of PR re. this issue? don’t act like you don’t know that’s how it goes.
as for devoting 4 out of your 7 paragraphs on what went down on oprah’s show — i say: interesting, very observant, and totally off topic. so what exactly are you trying to say with this post anyway? that she is wrong for adopting a child? or that it is wrong for her to justify her adopting a child? you know all too well that adopting the child, whether a publicity stunt or not, is faultless, so all you can do is resort to nitpicking on her awesome PR connections and her scripted appearance on oprah. like: oh hell, i can’t criticize the root of all this hooplah but i HAVE to find something to criticize so it might as well be the oprah show appearnce! sad, just plain sad i say.
madonna is far from perfect, but she is doing a lot more good to this world than you are or will ever. go find something truly awful to criticize and then maybe you’ll be doing some good.
but of course, we know you won’t be reading this. you dont care what we think. you just write and then post.
Comment by john — October 30, 2006 @ 11:14 am
Wow, Nic…..get a life…stop jerking at the computer, get a new outlook on life and you never know…people might actually like you. Are you really like that…can’t imagine people tolerate you in the real world. If you were a sleeping pill you’d cure insomnia!!hehe
Comment by Queen Bitch — November 2, 2006 @ 8:18 am
WHATEVER HOLY FU*K…Carol B…where ever you are…ooooooooooo. You said Madonna was drawn by the smile he got from his natural parents..well starvation is not inherited Carol. Is that where you would rather see a child? Third world is not pretty Carol!! Take off the bifocals …Are you that granola…you probably roll your own tampons.
Now go make love not war…whatever!!
Comment by Queen Bitch — November 2, 2006 @ 8:30 am
Queen B: Jeez, hon, Jagermeister and computers don’t mix. Even still, thank you for sharing in the convo.
Comment by Sprague Dawley — November 2, 2006 @ 11:37 pm
Well well Sprague Dawley…Your welcome for my shared thoughts in the “convo”, but come on…reality setting in now, I did convey what you probably would if you could. Good piece on Madonna by the way…generated exactly what you wanted it to. No Jagermeister here–just a sweet bottle of “fed-up”. Keep it up, I can’t wait to see what’s next!!
Comment by Queen Bitch — November 3, 2006 @ 11:58 am