A Malawi judge has rejected Madonna’s bid to adopt another child from the African country, according to the AP. A judge and lawyer, speaking to the AP anonymously, reportedly said the bid was shot down due to a requirement that prospective parents live in Malawi for at least 18 months before they can adopt. A judge waived that rule when Madonna took her adopted son David with her to London in 2006. It is unclear why Judge Esme Chombo ruled differently this time.
Madonna’s attempt to adopt 3-year-old Chifundo “Mercy” James has created outcry amongst activists who claim the girl would be better off with relatives.
UPDATE: Reuters reports that Madonna’s lawyer says the pop star is appealing the court ruling barring her from adopting a second child.
More on Madonna’s Malawi adoption:
Madonna’s Malawi adoption ruling pushed to Friday under storm of criticism
Madonna’s new adoption: Malawian court to review her request
Madonna adopting second Malawian child, say officials
Comments (1-15) of 33 Add your comment
While I feel for Madge I understand the law and she got past it once – but not this time.
I agree that the same amount of money she would spend on the child in the US would help SO many more children if she decided to fund facilities in Malawi.
Hope she considers that.
To Daniel Skinner,
I think she already funded a community in Malawi, I think its a school. But I agree that she would be respecting the rules.
She has given Millions to the Country and many Charitys over the world.
Why was she able to adopt the 1st time and not this time. That poor child will have no chance at life now. Its a sad sad day when any child without a Parent has to grow up alone.
They think the child would be better off with relatives? If she could be taken care of by relatives then she shouldn’t be in an orphanage. Poor little girl. I don’t love Madonna, but their reasoning is stupid
@Sam: You can’t say that the child has no chance at life now. You don’t know what her future holds. Some people are able to succeed in life despite unfavorable circumstances. Besides, someone, who will obey the law, may come along and adopt the child. Don’t just write her life off like that.
very nice,, i heard many celebrities have a account on __M illionaire Ro mances com __ “”"”"”, i.m doubt since i found her profile.. you can talk with them online, it’s awesome~~~
If the child has relatives she should be with them, they are her family. It is horrible to think she would be torn from them and taken to another country! She is not truly an orphan if she has a family. There are plenty of true orphans all over the world. So many children really need a family so I don’t understand why she would even try for a child that already has family!
If the child has a family and she supposedly would be better off with them, then why is she living in an orphanage? In what way is that ‘being with her family’?
What kind of ridiculous law is that? The parent has to live 18 months in Malawi? Who can do that? This certainly is not the case with other foreign adoptions.
I don’t understand why Madonna’s going thought all this hassle to adopt 1 child. She’s 50 years old but I think there are many African men who want to marry her to make babies.
Maybe now she can legally adopt Jesus Luz but that would not look right. Sleepin with your Mama.
Seriously, Juan? Grow up. We are talking about an orphaned child in Africa not who she is dating. This ruling is perverse enough not to have some ridiculous comment about the younger man she is dating. The court ruling is absurd.
Seriously Mark
You think this globe trotting marketing genious gives 2 cents about african babies? Do you know where Malawi is on a map? what is madonna’s connection to malawi? her many concert tours? her malawian friends? her many visits and love for the country and the people?
The laws which your american dumbness don’t understand are clear.Live in the country for 18-24 months and be able to adopt. After all, the kid is Malawian not African-american so therefore not all black people are the same. The kid has different customs, upbringing and connection to the country unlike madonna who “drops in” to buy black babies like a slave auction. and why the fascination with black african babies? The USA don’t have enough orphaned black babies that Madonna can help?
If she really wanted to help, build schools like Oprah,build a home for her family, pay for the kid’s education. africa ain’t the only place with orphans try india, china, the good ole usa
Emil, you don’t know the circumstances which have put her in an orphanage and I do not think they have a foster care system as they do here in America, so an orphanage would be the only place for the child to go even if just temporarily. The family may just have her there until they have the means to take her home with them.
My Grandmother was in an orphanage even though she had a relative close by. She had to wait for her Grandmother to come and get her until her Grandmother’s health and financial situation were fit for caring for a child.
If there is even a chance that she can grow up with her family in her own culture and country she should be able to!
Why is it when Madonna adopts, there is so much in advance publicity, a crew of photographers, so much international attention, paid to it. Funny but when other stars adopted from foreign countries (Angelina Jolie, Mary Louise Parker, Meg Ryan, Stephen Spielberg, ect.), you don’t hear boo about it until it’s a done deal. But Madonna CRAVES the publicity, she advises the press, has her own camera crew, throws a party the day before the judge’s ruling (how presumptious) all inappropriate. It’s obvious adopting is all about aging Madonna, not the children (at 50, she should not be contemplating motherhood IMO).