Adoption of "David" by Madonna

[Lolly Smoo]

Why doesn't Madonna give financial support to the father of "David" rather than taking the child away from him? Money doesn't mean you are a good parent. Isn't she just saying I'm richer than you and therefore I can afford to take your child? Why not choose a child with no living parent? I note that she sent a nanny to collect him and went off to her exercise class this morning...so much for mother child bonding! The poor child must be totally disorientated and shell-shocked.

[cascarelli]

Yes, but think of the publicity for her forthcoming book/record/video/tour (delete as appropriate)

She gets so many more column inches this way

[~admarlow~]

Its sick, just like shopping for a baby like a handbag, its like, Oh Angelena Jolie has a kid from a 3rd world country, ill get one, arnt they cute, and what with live8 etc I saving the planet!. Any one remember the Harry Enfield scetch with wayne and waynetta when Cathy Burk (sp?) said ''I want a black baby, all the other mums on the estate has one why can't I''

[Miss Inquiry]

This is exactly what the Sun's agony aunt has said today.
I have no issues with Madonna adopting this baby, she followed all the correct procedures but didn't publicise it. The media are not keen to publicise all the financial support she has already given and the financial support she has pledged going forward. As far as I have read Davids dad felt he could not cope without his wife, so throwing money at him might not have actaully helped him.
However something very positive has come out of all of this, adoption issues are being pushed to everyones attention, if it helps the thousands and thousands of children out there who need love/secutiry/family/warmth.... it can't be a bad thing.

[elfmay]

I was thinking the same, if she adopted a parentless baby she would have no idea if the baby would turn out ugly or not, this way she has had a chance to see photos of the baby�s mother first. Apparently she is going back to the same village to adopt a baby girl. I suppose she wants a matching set? I think this is disgusting.

[LeMarchand]

A third world baby is this year's must-have accessory, dahling...

[nedflanders]

If I had her money I would rather sponsor a whole village or small town. You could make such a difference to many peoples lifes instead of making one child into a potential future spoilt brat (hopefully he will remember his roots and do something more worthy when he inherits her fortune)

[Miss Inquiry]

Nedflanders - She has given the village �2million which could make a huge difference to them.
(Reportedly - as all we know about the situation in second hand knowledge).

[sp1814]

Madonna has pledged �1.6million to fund an orphanage and education centre in the village where David was born.

Personally, even though I'm a huge fan of the woman, I think this adoption was a mistake, because it makes it look as if she went 'shopping for a kid'...even though she didn't.

Money certainly doesn't mean that you're a good parent, but then again, it doesn't mean you're a bad one either. Her kids (from what I've seen in documentaries) seem to be well adjusted and 'normal' considering their mother is the most famous woman in the world.

Also, can you imagine the media scrum if Madonna herself went to the airport to collect David? Probably wise that she wasn't anywhere near the place.

[sp1814]

cascarelli

I don't think that's fair...remember Madonna doesn't really have to do that much to get onto the front pages of the papers. Three weeks ago, she appeared in public wearing a blonde wig and made the front of five national papers.

No, sorry - becoming the mother of a child for the rest of it's life, I really don't see as a publicity stunt.

Another thing - she has no major product due for release for the next 18 months.

[brionon]

An African child goes from poverty and ignorance to a life of
plenty and a good education. Shame on you Madonna.

[Champagne]

I don't see anything wrong with it, Lolly. People adopt all the time but it just seems that it's the celebrities everyone is having the issue with.

Madonna has the blessing of the child's father and has done so much for the village already. I can't see how you can find fault when this child is going to be offered a new lease of life. It's not as if he'll never see his father or country again either.

[45703]

An African father and family loose child to famous rich western pop star, who could have helped this man to raise his child in the country of her birth. Shame on you Madonna.

[bazwillrun]

why does she need to go to africa, theres plenty of orphaned kids here and in the usa ?

[-Zorro-]

Are we talking about the fallen Madonna with the big boobies here

[Goodsoulette]

Was the child already up for adoption or did she waltz into a village and ask this guy if he could cope and then offer to take the child away. If this is the case then its bang out of order.

Plenty of children are put up for adoption by people where parents are still alive. Are we saying that anyone who is prepared to take on a child with parents who are still alive but could not cope for financial or emotional reasons should just be paid to do so, or should they go to a better life where they are gonna be cared for and loved unconditionally.

I dont really like her but I reckon shes getting too much of a hard time over this.

I do agree that it is forcing adotion issues which really do need addressing.

[anotheoldgit]

How many black celebrities have gone out to Africa to adopt a child?
Come to that how many have adopted a white child, yes I know Lionel Richie has, any others?

[suffragette]

I think it's an appalling situation and the child would have been more fulfilled culturally living with his father, friends and fellow villagers. Madonna could have paid for live in child care for the family, if the father was having trouble coping.

Is Madonna going to learn the child's native language, allow him to follow the religion of his village and ensure his life is full of cultural references to his homeland, or is she going to raise him as a westernised charity case devoid of any African cultural heritage.

As for Angelina Jolie's adoptions..well! How a woman with a reputation for cutting herself was deemed a suitable candidate as an adoptive parent, I will never know.

[Backdrifter]

Shame how a minor story like this (as usual) gets over-inflated to ludicrous proportions by the media just because it's Madonna, then prompting various of us to post our nasty, narrow-minded bile-filled little comments on forums like this. I'm not one to shed tears on behalf of wealthy celebrities but they are still people and it's unfair that, because they are rich, that somehow or other makes it okay to automatically assume the worst about their intentions and motivations. Yes Lolly, having money doesn't MAKE you a good parent. Neither does it make you a bad one.

I think the negative comments in about half the posts here reveal more about the mean-spiritedness of the people making those comments than they do about anything that Madonna's done. I notice that most of the pro-Madonna points being made are going unanswered, unchallenged and unreferred to by those who find it easier and more preferable to paint her as some rich bitch who's forcefully wrested a child away from its protesting father.

[gerkin]

I have no problems with wealthy people getting special treatment - it just shows they have made an effort in life like getting out of bed and buying a lottery ticket.

[Miss Inquiry]

Well said backdrifter!!