Madonna News

A spokesman for Madonna has previously said that Malawi's President has a "grudge" after her sister Anjimile Oponyo was sacked as the head of her charitable foundation Raising Malawi.

Ms Oponyo was sacked due to "concerns about mismanagement of $3.8m", said Trevor Neilson, whose Global Philanthropy Group manages Madonna's projects in Malawi.

The allegations have been denied by Ms Oponyo and the President Joyce Banda's office has dismissed the claim.

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• Malawi
• Madonna

A statement issued by Madonna's charity Raising Malawi has addressed claims from Malawi's government relating to her behaviour on a recent trip.

I was very happy to visit with the children of Malawi earlier this month and to see with my own eyes the ten new primary schools in Kasungu province that Raising Malawi and buildOn completed this past year. These schools are now educating more than 4,800 children with girls attending in equal numbers.

I’m saddened that Malawi’s President Joyce Banda has chosen to release lies about what we’ve accomplished, my intentions, how I personally conducted myself while visiting Malawi and other untruths.

I have no intentions of being distracted by these ridiculous allegations. I came to Malawi seven years ago with honourable intentions. I returned earlier this month to view the new schools we built. I did not ever ask or demand special treatment at the airport or elsewhere during my visit. I will not be distracted or discouraged by other people’s political agendas. I made a promise to the children of Malawi and I am keeping that promise.

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• Malawi
• Madonna

Last week, Malawi's President was reportedly angered by Madonna's claim to have built ten schools in the country.

She is quoted as saying: "Where are the 10 schools she has built? She is just building school blocks at already existing schools. In some cases she just renovated an already existing block.

"This is an insult to the people of Malawi. She can't be lying to the world at our expense".

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• Malawi
• Madonna

In the feeling of Madonna, the Malawi Government and its leadership should have rolled out the red carpet and blast the 21-gun salute in her honour because she believes that as a musician, the whiff of whose repute flies across international boundaries, she automatically is candidate for VVIP treatment.

Granted, Madonna is a famed international musician. But that does not impose an injunction of obligation on any government under whose territory Madonna finds herself, including Malawi, to give her state treatment. Such treatment, even if she deserved it, is discretionary not obligatory.

• Entertainment
• Malawi
• Madonna

Malawi's government has accused Madonna of demanding special treatment during her recent visit to the country.

The singer - who has adopted two Malawian-born children - recently visited schools her charity helped fund.

A statement issued by President Joyce Banda's office on Wednesday accused Madonna of wanting Malawi "to be forever chained to the obligation of gratitude".

Madonna was also accused of being "a musician who desperately thinks she must generate recognition by bullying state officials instead of playing decent music on the stage".

• Entertainment
• Malawi
• Madonna

Madonnas past and present have been united, as three versions of the pop perennial stand side by side.

London's Madame Tussauds showed off the trio of Material Girls which have each been newly created and will be displayed together for the next three weeks.

The queen of re-invention is seen in the look she has been showing off for her MDNA tour and new figures have been created in her past guises from her Sticky And Sweet era and her Like A Virgin image.

• Entertainment
• Madonna

Madonna is being sued for $10 million by a group of anti-gay Russian activists who say she insulted their feelings when she spoke out for gay rights at her concert in St Petersburg.

During her performance last week Madonna attacked a city law adopted in March that imposed fines for spreading homosexual "propaganda." One of the ten anti-gay activists taking the suit said:

"After Madonna's concert maybe some boy becomes gay, some girl becomes lesbian, fewer children are born as a result and this big country cannot defend its borders, for me it causes moral suffering."

Homosexuality was decriminalised in Russia in 1993, but prejudice against the gay community runs deep, attempts to hold gay rights rallies St Petersburg often results in arrests and clashes.

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• Madonna
• St Petersburg