Madonna Loses Bid To Adopt Second Malawian Child
She must be devastated!
Madonna's attempt at adopting a second Malawian child has been rejected. The singer got around a rule which forces potential parents to live in the country for 18 months when she adopted David, but the courts wouldn't give her the same favor this time around.
The singer's lawyer appeared in court in the African nation's capital of
Lilongwe this morning expecting to finalize the adoption of
four-year-old orphan Mercy James. However, Judge Esme Chombo rejected Madonna's case.
In papers lodged at the court on Monday (30.03.09), Madonna promised to love
and provide security for Mercy - whose real name is Chifundo.
"I am able and willing to securely provide for Chifundo James and
make her a permanent and established member of my family.
"To deny Chifundo James the opportunity to be adopted by me could expose her
to hardship and emotional trauma which is otherwise avoidable."
I am sure Madonna's team will continue to fight for Mercy. What do you think about the judge's decision? Did he make the right one?
Photos by WENN.com
Wow she's been aging pretty fast lately. I have always been amazed at how young she looked at her age but I guess it's finally catching up with her.
300 points
"In papers lodged at the court on Monday (30.03.09), Madonna promised to love Mercy - whose real name is Chifundo - like she was her own daughter."
Wait - did the legal papers actually say "like she was her own daughter" or is that your language, Vera? If she adopted Mercy, she wouldn't be "like" her own daughter, she would BE her own daughter. Adoption is forever.
Damn. Too bad for that little girl. My aunt and uncle had to spend significant time in China when they adopted both of their children. They want to make sure you know the culture and can teach your children about where they are from and who they are. Makes tons of sense. I truly think all the hoopla surrounding Madonnas personal life effected this decision. She has made some irrational decisions in her personal life and played them out in front of the world.
She should not have gotten out of that living in the country rule to begin with. Just because she's famous doesnt mean she can do whatever she pleases when it involves the life of a child (or anything else for that matter).
well I guess she thought she could use her wealth and celebrity status to get what she wants.
47837 points
Are you KIDDING me?! Living with Madonna as a mother would be emotional trauma.
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You people are all fucking idiots!!!!!!! Yes, that's right, leave the kid in a foster home where she can die before the age of 8......isn't that better than living with Madonna in her mansions with all her money?????? You are all Lunatics!!!!!!!!!
8430 points
Good, I'm glad someone put that b*tch in her place. Just the other day she said she was being given no special favors, she was going about it like everybody else. I don't call waiving living in the country for 18 mos not getting special favors.
While it is in the young childs best interest to be raised in her native country, who, in a country with one of the highest infant mortality rates in Africa, is going to adopt her? There are 1.5 million orphans currently living in Malawian orphanages, if you need to be a resident for 18-24 months, can the citizens afford to adopt? I think not. Big mistake on the judges part. That poor child, and many others, are now set to live to the ripe old age of 35, in poverty.
Absolutely!
340 points
i dont think its right that she can get away with not following the proper adoption laws, its not fair to people who arnt famous. but i do think this child would have a better life with madonna, surely giving a child a better life is always a good thing? if she want to adopt her as much as she says she does, maybe she should follow the regulations and live out there for 18months?
8430 points
All I'm saying is that Madonna should have to play by the same rules as everybody else. Just because she is extremely wealthy doesn't make her a better parent than anybody else that wants to adopt. I'm sure the 18 month rule doesn't work for most people. But it is what it is.
"She must be devastated!" "The singer got around a rule which forces potential parents to live in the country for 18 months when she adopted David, but the courts wouldn't give her the same favor this time around. " Do you actually READ what you post? What world are you living in? You clearly state the Madonna previously skirted the law when she adopted David and now feel badly for her because she couldn't do it again? What is wrong with you?
2660 points
WHAT? i hope they all regret this decision when that baby is forced to work/prostitute/gets aids/malnutrition/etc.
Why the hell does she need to LIVE there if the WHOLE WORLD is watching her all the time?
Ok, I do not agree with the living in the country for 18 months to adopt rule. These children are in orphanages where they don't have enough food, medical care, schooling or anything, and no one from their own country is or can afford to adopt these children. And, who from outside their country can afford to pick up and just live over there for 18 months? I am not a Madonna fan, but this little girl would have a nice home, food, clothing, education, medical care and love...what does she have now??? This is not what is in the best interest of the child.
the kid is in Madonna orphanage , if the conditions are as you have described then what has she been spending all that money on
If I ever have to adopt from abroad, I know not to go to Malawi. I know it's not the children's fault but 18 months is over the top. How come the Jolie-Pitt didn't have to live in Ethiopia for 18 months? Their adoption of Pax took a couple of days. So if a country wants to make over the top rule to prevent their own orphan to maybe have a better life then that's their problem. I honestly don't see anybody living there for 18 months, for a couple of months maybe but not for a year and a half. So a normal person with a 9-5 job would lose their jobs and how are they going to raise the kid when they go back to their country? Their government and most of you probably think that Madonna lost, she did but Mercy is the one who really lost in this situation. Just because you hate Madonna doesn't mean she is not going to be a good mother for that child or provide her of a better life. Now by reading this article, millions of people who were planning to adopt there have probably changed their minds and therefore millions of orphans will stay there forever, in poverty, disease and misery. You are all happy she didn't get the child, I dare you to be happy for that child now.
8050 points
I don't think the contempt has anything to do with punishing the child. I think we all agree that having any adoptive parent live in a country for 18 months is ridiculous especially considering that anyone who can afford to do it is most likely not from that country. Madonna got special favors during her last adoption, and it should not have happened. Yes, the children should be allowed to have an easier adoption than what is in place, but the fact is their law is their law. Stupid or not.
BTW - Money does not mean that child will be any happier than with a family with little or no money. Sometimes you get even less love.
If you read my comments, I didn't talk about money at all. But reality is if you and I go there to live there for 18 months, aren't we gonna lose our jobs over here? And if we have kids here, are we gonna take them with us for 18 months? And if they gave Madonna special favors last time, that's their problems. They chose to do it. Maybe their intent is not to punish the child but at the end of the day, the child is the one who is going to suffer. And that's what I was saying, that's their law so if noone comes over to adopt orphans from there then that's their problem. If they really want those kids to be adopted they should change their terms.
2660 points
Please, it's totally naïve to believe in the "poor happy family" thing. A lot of extremely poor families sell their children & react badly when they have to luck to be rescued & taken home again, because it means another mouth to feed.
I'm really sorry for this child, they are keeping her away from a beautiful opportunity.
8050 points
I agree that being adopted out is most likely a better situation for this child, but we are assuming that Madonna will be a better mother than another person willing to submit to the laws because she has money. Donald Trump has money but would you want him to raise you?
I honestly don’t understand why they’re denying her. What a sad thing for the little girl. I’m from Africa and come from a wealthy family but I can tell you how sad the life of an orphan can be. Whether you agree with Madonna’s life style or not, it is a totally different story, but I can tell you for the little girl this would’ve been a blessing. I’m very saddened by this… and I hope Madonna doesn’t give up on her.
8980 points
She'll find a way around it. She is "buying" a school there, wouldn't that constitute residency at some level. She will get her way, she will. This is being played out really well in the media, no doubt about it.
Madonna is 50 years old and has three children. Although I am sure the child would be well "provided" for, I do take a certain pleasure in someone telling Madonna NO. Doubt that happens often!
Oh, and I want to add: The Madonna's and the Angelina's have to go to foreign countries to adopt because neither, with their histories, would qualify to adopt a child in the USA.
1935 points
Why make it so hard to adopt? 18 months?? How can any average person ever afford that & be away from work? They'd never be able to afford the child after that! The country is obviously in poverty, so shouldn't they be WILLING to let qualified people adopt their orphaned children?? Not that I think Madonna is above the law, rules are rules, but why make it so dang hard?
3395 points
I'm torn on this one.
Laws are laws for a reason. Nobody should be above that, and money should not buy you an exception.
On the other hand, this little girl has such a future ahead of her if allowed to be adopted. Obviously Madonna isn't against her children seeing their biological parents/family, as she let David visit his father. I'm sure Mercy would be allowed to see her family...(her grandmother was the one that was against this, right...?)
Hm. Toughie. :(
Come on people it’s a child that lives in an orphanage in Africa! How long is she’s going to live???!?!??! These rules should not apply for anyone capable to give a child a better life! I don’t understand they rather a child die in an orphanage ( I can only imagine the conditions these children are being raised in) then let her go to a home where the child can have everything including a family.
19825 points
wonder when was the last time someone told Madonna NO ?
595 points
They told Madonna NO and ultimately told the child NO.
2685 points
I don't think she should be able to adopt JUST because she is Madonna. If she fulfills the requirements then by all means! But if not, then she shouldn't have a way around it.
Bwahhhhhhhhhhhhh!! LMAO!! LOL!!
She should invest in the whole village, not just one child. Now she'll probably give up and never return again!
Those laws exist for a reason. If you make one exception, it subverts the whole law, which makes it susceptible to further distortion, which with the wrong intentions could lead to human trafficking, sweat shops, child prostitution, etc. Madonna has a made a career and persona based on the appropriation and exploitation of other cultures, she has zero respect for anything, aside from herself, being a raging egomaniac, so it's not surprising she expects to just swoop in and get whatever she wants, when she wants it, where ever she should happen to be.
Not to mention, why they hell is she adopting another child in the first place, she is 50 years old with 3 children already, recently divorced, has a ridiculous publicity-stunt-driven public life and image, and also according to everything everyone knows, is a workaholic psychopath.
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