Madonna Loses Bid for Malawi Child; No Attempt to Adopt Malawi Judge
'I Went to Malawi and All I Got Was This Stupid T-Shirt'
Madonna's bid to adopt a second child from the African country of Malawi was turned away today by that nation's High Court. According to Reuters, the ruling is good news for Malawians who felt that Madonna received special treatment when she was allowed to adopt a 13-month-old boy in 2006.
Reports that the Material Girl's Plan B included an attempt at adopting the Honorable (and reportedly downright adorable) Judge Chombo were apparently just rumors.
In making the decision to deny Madonna's adoption of three-year-old Chifundo "Mercy" James, Judge Esimie Chombo railed against celebrity adoptions, warning that they could encourage child trafficking. Reuters quotes Judge Chombo: "Anyone could come to Malawi and quickly arrange for an adoption that might have grave consequences on the very children that the law seeks to protect."
Judge Chombo stopped short of recommending that Madonna settle for a safari hat from the airport gift shop.
- Reuters: Madonna Loses Adoption Bid
- WSJ Blog: Madonna and Child: Celebrity Overseas Adoptions
- L.A. Times: Madonna, Malawi, and Adoption Madness
- The Rules on International Adoption (FindLaw)
- Inter-Country Adoption Information (U.S. State Dept.)
- NY Times: Madonna's Adoption Bid is Denied in Malawi