Turns our the Material Girl doesn’t get to buy whatever she wants. Her second adoption attempt in Malawi was turned down, meaning 3-year-old Chifundo “Mercy” James is staying put for now. The country’s adoption laws have certain residency restrictions, which would require Madonna living there for 18-24 months so her interaction with the child can be observed; only once did Malawi waive that exception, and it was for Madonna’s first adopted child David Banda. But what, exactly, did the court have to say in the matter? An exclusive peek at the judge’s ruling:
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[Photos: Splash News; Documents via Bauer Griffin]
afrolito
The judge is a MORON, and clearly seemed to be influenced by the negative international press, who love to crucify Madonna. She put that country on the map in terms of world recognition, and has spent millions helping the poor and building schools and orphanages through her foundation. Of course that makes her unfit to raise this little girl, who she has been eying for years. The press makes it out like she just picked from a lineup last week.
Oh well, i’m sure this isn’t the end. According to her spokesman, she has launched an appeal. People love to judge Madonna, but by all accounts she’s a wonderful mother. Rocco, Lola, and David always seem to be thriving, healthy, and happy with her. David would probably be dead if she had left him in that orphange. I hope the same fate doesn’t befall little Mercy.
jake
I’ve been saying this and so many other people are saying this on comment boards everywhere: why are not adopting American orphans? Her mentality is that American orphans have nothing to worry about they are provided for. Well this judge told her she was fine too. So why not get an orphan child from here idiot! An orphan is an orphan is an orphan and Mercy is not going to die!
afrolito
@jake:
You’re an idiot. Mercy is living in squalid conditions in a third world orphanage, with 2 million other children. No kid in an american orphange is walking around with a distended belly, dying of hunger, and disease. Are you fucking kidding me??
Mercy, and others like her very well could die. David himself was deathly ill, when Madonna first spotted him, and thank god she did.
Shane!
Am I the only person aghast that the judge’s ruling is typed in Comic Sans?
Pragmatist
Woah! The ruling’s written in a style descended from English common law! What’s up with that? Was Malawi colonized by Britain?
Anyway, this is an obviously sad result for the little girl. I’ve never heard a single bad thing about M’s parenting except that her kids are a bit spoiled — but a kid could grow up in worse circumstances than being spoiled, for sure. Hope she wins.
Nat
Afrolito, you’re an idiot. The judge’s decision was not based on the fitness of Madonna to raise a child, but the implications on the Malawi legal system and other orphans. Clearly, to avoid unscrupulous human trafficking, the Malawi govt needs to establish proper iner-country adoption rules and standards. Hopefully, that’s what this ruling will lead to.
And yes it IS disturbing that it is in Comic Sans Serif!
jake
@afrolito: You know if she really wants to help, she’d buy a house there and raise the child there and bring her army of people with her, or do like other moms have to do, raise the girl herself. Taking the child out of her surroundings is a very violent act. She should not do what’s convenient for her, but what’s best for the child. And if she can’t do it, send people there to help raise her! That’s what she’s going to do anyway, have people do the mommy work. Surprised that you’re such a typical American Afrolito – so ethnocentric.
jake
The judge made a well-thought out decision and it certainly has everything to do with protecting this child. Imagine all the people that would show up claiming goodwill. One mistake would be human life, and no better than what they face already. There are better measures to improve this girl’s life without taking her out of there. Bring the help to her.
Milly Ways
@Shane!: You are not alone. Srsly bizarro font WTF.
Kevin@BGFH
@Shane!: I know, totally surreal and distracting.
BrianZ
I’m all for the laws being applied equally and fairly to everyone, even if you are a world-famous musician/entertainer.
Kevin B
I understand the argument about leaving the child there and raising the child there. But that’s a temporary fix for one child. It will not help the community. I think Madonna thinks much differently. Bigger. Raising these children and then having them return someday (as the children of Madonna) will bring about greater change for this community. You can bet that in 20+ years time you will see these now grown children back in Africa affecting change. In the meantime, her continued link to the country will also help them.
alan brickman
she’s not adopting a child from a country of 2 million orpahns..she’s also saving a life child mortality is horrendous in this country..hopefully this judge will realize this…
patrick
i wish Madonna would adopt me.
Cee
@ Jake….yeah, I don’t know why these celebrities adopt children from 3rd world countries as if we don’t have enough children in the United States to adopt. Angelina Jolie, Madonna, and many others have adopted this fetish.
dizzyspins
Yes, it’d be great if Madge, Angelina, Mia et al adopted American orphans, but as others have posted, American orphans are not in danger of disease or starvation. And part of the reason people go abroad is that with American adoption laws, if the father suddenly shows up or the mother changes her mind six months later, they can lose the child. Any child raised by Madonna will have a better life then they would in Malawi. That’s probably true of any American who adopted from that country. Requiring 18-month residency is moronic. Americans travel the globe for children–Asia, Africa, India–without such inane restrictions. Madonna’s reasons may not be 100 percent noble, but that child will be cared for more than most of us were.
HYHYBT
“Mercy is living in squalid conditions in a third world orphanage, with 2 million other children.” Wow, that’s an accomplishment in itself! An orphanage larger than most cities…
michael
@afrolito: Jesus Christ. Have you got
the word VICTIM written on your forehead? Madonna is crucified by the press! Madonna loves and thrives on all attention, negative and positive. And what the F**k do you know about how her children are doing? I am so sure that you are having weekly outings with the whole hee haw gang. Jesus your a freak. Madonna is not your mother, now say it three times, Madonna is not my mommie, Madonna is not my mommie, Madonna is not my mommie. Get a life, there is nothing more unattractive than some old Queen with a pop star obsession.
Sampson
@Pragmatist: Yes, we ruled it until the mid-1960s.
jake
@Cee: it’s disgusting. why can’t she raise mercy from africa and then at 18 give her full support financially to do what she wants? africa deserves full attention. this girl could do more for her peers staying in africa with privilege than leaving. bring the education to her. make her world just for her circumstances. disgusting to take her away, delaying her effectiveness there. raise you daughter with love in her village bitch.
jake
nobody really wants your live madonna. get it through your head and heart. you are a self serving and insecure being. your spirituality is best at the minds of others. you’re a lovely talented person, but unfortunately haven’t had the luck of emotional and romantic prosperity because you have violent control issues.
jason
I truly regret helping to make this cow rich. She acts like a queen, giving off regal airs and flinty glances.
Queerky
Good she was turned down. Her motive was vanity/ publicity. If she really wanted to help the orphans of Malawi(and they clearly need and deserve help) she should donate the money she would have spent of raising Mercy in America. With the rate of exchange I am sure all of the kids at that orphanage would be guaranteed a better future. But that will not her the same publicity milage, so I don’t think she will.
Tony
Why doesn’t she just build orphanages that are better than the ones that exist? Instead of taking a child from the country, why doesn’t Madonna pull an Oprah and build schools that will benefit the young people and the communities. Taking a child away from the country and thinking in 20 years the child will return to help his/her once naitve land is crazy talk. Do you really think Madonna’s adopted children after growing up with wealth and with her as a mother are actually going to return to help their former country? Highly unlikely. Educate the kids that are already there and plan to stay there.
afrolito
@michael:
Fuck you….For one thing, i’m neither old or a queen at 25.
If you don’t like my posts in this thread, you could have easily skipped over it. Instead you came in here to add nothing execpt your own queeny bitch rant. That’s unattractive, but sadly common.
afrolito
@Queerky:
Another moron. How is trying to adopt a child a publicity stunt? They crucified her for adopting David, and they’re doing it now, so what possible benefit is this causing her? She gets attention just going to the gym, so she’s not starving for the camera time, and her career is just as hot as ever. People are just so cynical and miserable in their own lives, that they can’t even see past themselves, to accept that she could actually just want to help this child. Contrary to popular belief, she is a human being.
As far as her mothering skills go, here’s a statement from her ex Guy yesterday:
“In a statement, Ritchie said: “Madonna is a fantastic and loving mother who cares deeply about her own children, and children who may need additional help and support.
“I fully supported Madonna in her decision to apply for this adoption, and I am saddened that her application has been rejected. She is motivated only by being a caring parent who seeks to share some of the advantages and opportunities that her life has given her. This time it did not work out, but there will be other opportunities and I wish her well in them. She is a great mum.”
alan brickman
exactly..just like previuosly said..she could get the same amount of press just going to a gym….this really is a labor of love for her….
I. M. Better
@Afrolito
Hey Madonna ass-licker, her whole career is based on brainless nitwits writing about her transparently outrageous stunts and ass wipes like you buying the records because of the headlines. She got the first adoption because she supposedly raised 2.5 million for Malawi orphans. To date that money has not been seen or accounted for. As far as her mothering skills, a nanny will be doing that and if Guy was so impressed with her why the hell did he divorce her? Do you have any brain cells at all, seriously, dude.
michael
@afrolito: Okay, so your some 25 year old fat fuck who is obsessed with Madonna. Yeah, I could skip over your posts but its funny how you continually turn up on this site over and over with your pathetic victim hood and its also funny how everywhere you post your in at least 2 to 3 nasty counter posts with someone using profanity and resorting to low rent name calling. Your just plain pathetic.