Queen of Pop Madonna is in the centre of another row as controversy surrounds her bid to adopt the Malawian child Mercy James.
Madonna enjoyed one of her most successful years to date in 2008, with her Sticky And Sweet tour playing to packed out crowds across the globe. Named as the year’s highest grossing tour, it proved that Madonna is still an attraction despite the lukewarm reception afforded to her album ‘Hard Candy’.
However the singer’s personal life came under scrutiny as rarely before. Her marriage to British film director Guy Ritchie came under scrutiny, before finally dissolving just before their eighth wedding anniversary.
Madonna has initiated moves to adopt a child from Malawi. The singer is already the legal guardian of a young boy from the African nation, and apparently wants to help another child. However her divorce, and subsequent allegations of a relationship with a married baseball player, have led some in Malawi to claim that she is an unfit role model.
Opposition have come from civil society groups, with one human rights activist going as far as to say that adopting the child would amount to child trafficking.
The singer’s publicist Liz Rosenberg told news agency Reuters “The adoption process for Mercy began over a year ago when Madonna met her on one of her visits to Malawi. The connection was instant and profound. Madonna’s desire to adopt Mercy is totally heartfelt.”
“She is not skirting any legal issues in her application to adopt this child and is looking to provide a loving family environment and the best education and health care possible for a child who has been in an orphanage since her birth,” the statement said.
