Malawi labels Madonna a bully

[Benjamin]

Malawi has accused US singer Madonna of "bullying state officials" after she reportedly complained about her treatment on a visit to the country.

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

The government said the star appeared to believe she deserved to be treated better than other celebrity visitors.

It accused her of exaggerating her charity's contribution and said she should concentrate on playing music.

Madonna was said to have been angered that she and her entourage were stripped of their VIP status on their way out of the country, the UK's Daily Telegraph reported.

They had to line up with other passengers at the airport and were frisked by security officials, the report said.

The change in status was said to be the result of a public spat about her charitable work in Malawi.
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Among the many things that Madonna needs to learn as a matter of urgency is the decency of telling the truth”

Malawi government statement

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

"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,'' said the statement.

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

It added: "Among the many things that Madonna needs to learn as a matter of urgency is the decency of telling the truth.

"For her to tell the whole world that she is building schools in Malawi when she has actually only contributed to the construction of classrooms is not compatible with manners of someone who thinks she deserves to be revered with state grandeur."

There has so far been no reaction to the statement from Madonna.

Last week the singer toured 10 primary schools which her charity said she had built.

"I love Malawi, I am committed to help end poverty here," the pop star had said.

However, Malawi's education minister Eunice Kazembe told the BBC that she was building classrooms not entire schools in the southern African country.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-22103748

[arista]

Yes her Money makes her a Bully.
She gets her way.

[GypsyGoth]

The president should have said to her - It's not you your Lawi, it's Malawi.

[Smithy]

The president should have said to her - It's not you your Lawi, it's Malawi.

that was terrible

[GypsyGoth]

that was terrible

I was working on that all day :hmph:

[Smithy]

I read the article, she's not really a bully, just sounds like she had a bitch fit for *gasp* being treated like a regular person :joker:

[Smithy]

I was working on that all day :hmph:

should work a bit harder next time :idc:

[GypsyGoth]

should work a bit harder next time :idc:

:laugh: I will, I learned my lesson this time.

[lostalex]

The President is just pissed off because Madonna called her out on her families corruption. Madonna fired the President's sister from her charity because she was stealing money.

[the truth]

pretty sure madonna accused the father of the first baby she took of being abusive and of carrying aids which is why she took the baby...........he couldnt speak english and only found this out later and was furious at these lies. hes a good honest man and has not got aids and he also claimed he didnt even realise she was taking his child. the man was heartbroken

[Livia]

pretty sure madonna accused the father of the first baby she took of being abusive and of carrying aids which is why she took the baby...........he couldnt speak english and only found this out later and was furious at these lies. hes a good honest man and has not got aids and he also claimed he didnt even realise she was taking his child. the man was heartbroken

How come you always seem to have the inside story on whatever it is you're commenting on? Where do you get these "facts"?


The President is just pissed off because Madonna called her out on her families corruption. Madonna fired the President's sister from her charity because she was stealing money.

Yes, that was my take on it. How dare she take their poverty stricken children and give them an upbringing beyond the realms of fantasy for most people? And how dare she set up a charity to try to help people in that backwoods country. Whatever she does she will be criticised.

Mugabe said we should "keep our pink noses out of African business". Probably for the only time in my life, I tend to agree with him.

[the truth]

How come you always seem to have the inside story on whatever it is you're commenting on? Where do you get these "facts"?




Yes, that was my take on it. How dare she take their poverty stricken children and give them an upbringing beyond the realms of fantasy for most people? And how dare she set up a charity to try to help people in that backwoods country. Whatever she does she will be criticised.

Mugabe said we should "keep our pink noses out of African business". Probably for the only time in my life, I tend to agree with him.

because I look at things more closely than you

[Harry!]

Madonna's statement:

"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. These children who were formerly learning outside on the ground, in unsafe buildings or not at all, now get to attend classes on a daily basis. My children and I were overjoyed to visit these schools and see what amazing progress has been made. I will continue to follow through on my commitment to help educate the children of Malawi. 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 honorable intentions. I returned earlier this month to view the new schools we built. I did not ever ask or demand speial 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"

[Redway]

because I look at things more closely than you

:joker:

[Kizzy]

I didn't see Alex get asked for 'facts' to back up his statement.

[lostalex]

I didn't see Alex get asked for 'facts' to back up his statement.

It was in the original BBC News article.

[Withano]

The president should have said to her - It's not you your Lawi, it's Malawi.

You always make the best posts! whats your secret!

[GypsyGoth]

You always make the best posts! whats your secret!

:laugh: loads of practice.

[Kizzy]

I can't see that Alex, do you have a link please?

[lostalex]

I can't see that Alex, do you have a link please?

Here you go. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-22123841

"But two years ago she closed down the Malawian office of her charity Raising Malawi, which was headed by President Joyce Banda's sister, Anjimile Mtila-Oponyo - who now works at the education ministry - and opted to fund 10 schools instead."

Are you going to hound the truth to provide links to his/her claims now?

[Kizzy]

The President is just pissed off because Madonna called her out on her families corruption. Madonna fired the President's sister from her charity because she was stealing money.

That link mentioned nothing about theft Alex, I didn't hound you, I asked very politely actually.
Livia already asked the truth to provide his source.

[Harry!]

It is true that the presidents sister was responsible for stealing the funding for the original school. Because of this Madonna fired her from the Rasing Malawi funding team.

[Saph]

If it wasn't for Madonna, I wouldn't even know Malawi exists.

[Benjamin]

If it wasn't for Madonna, I wouldn't even know Malawi exists.

That's not a good thing. :tongue:

[Harry!]

Is there an article relating to this?

The basic information can be found in the Career section of her Wiki article. It is well known that she abused the funds and used them for her own personal use.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anjimile_Oponyo

[Kizzy]

The basic information can be found in the Career section of her Wiki article. It is well known that she abused the funds and used them for her own personal use.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anjimile_Oponyo

Do you have a reliable source?

[the truth]

If it wasn't for Madonna, I wouldn't even know Malawi exists.

I think thats more a poor reflection of the education system than any praise to pre-madonna

[the truth]

heres proof the truth speaks the truth

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-413228/Davids-father-Ill-escape-stigma-Madonnas-AIDS-lie.html



David's father: I'll never escape stigma of Madonna's AIDS 'lie'By STEPHEN BEVAN, Mail on Sunday
Last updated at 22:03 28 October 2006


Comments (0) Share .
Yohane Banda
The father of Madonna's adopted orphan has dismissed as a lie the singer's claim on TV that his wife and other children died of AIDS.
Yohane Banda, 32, whose wife died aged 25 after giving birth to 13-month-old David, says he will now have to live with the stigma.
The African peasant farmer also denied the superstar's allegation that he had never visited his son at the orphanage, to which he was entrusted at the age of two weeks.
Speaking on the Oprah Winfrey Show last week, Madonna, 48, said when she met David at the orphanage in Malawi she was told his mother and three siblings had died of AIDS, while his father's whereabouts were unknown.
But Mr Banda, who lives in the village of Lipunga, close to the border with Zambia, said: "She never went for an HIV test and she died in Zambia at her parents' house, so how could anyone know if that is what she died of?"
The clinic she attended when she became ill during pregnancy had diagnosed anaemia, he added.
Later, when she was admitted to hospital in Malawi, he was told she had a physical condition that made childbirth very risky.
Mr Banda insisted he had two other children - not three as Madonna was told - one of whom had died of malaria, while the other died suddenly at 18 months from an unknown cause. Neither was HIV positive as far as he knew.
Mr Banda said he was worried that if people believed Madonna's claims, they would stigmatise him.
In the TV interview, Madonna said David had been abandoned by his family. "No one from his extended family had visited him since he arrived," she told Oprah. But Mr Banda insisted this was also "a lie", adding: "I visited David many times, too many to count."
The baby was also visited by his grandmother, while Mr Banda's brother, Profera, "saw him almost every day, sometimes twice a day".
Despite his anger at the slurs, Mr Banda refused to blame Madonna and instead accused the orphanage of giving her "false information".
However, an official at the Home of Hope Orphan Care Centre insisted: "We gave her no such information," and instead pointed the finger at Malawi's Ministry of Gender and Child Welfare.
Meanwhile, although David has been in the UK for less than two weeks, Madonna has introduced him to her Kabbalah faith.
The move is likely to upset Mr Banda, who was told his son was going to "a very nice Christian lady". Madonna took the toddler to the Friday night Shabat ceremony at the Central London Kabbalah Centre, and invited other children to "come and play with baby David".
The boy even wore the Kabbalah red string bracelet, believed by followers to ward off evil spirits.


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-413228/Davids-father-Ill-escape-stigma-Madonnas-AIDS-lie.html#ixzz2QSE8DWd1
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook

[Jack_]

I don't care about this topic but this thread has been a very entertaining read :joker:

[lostalex]

heres proof the truth speaks the truth

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-413228/Davids-father-Ill-escape-stigma-Madonnas-AIDS-lie.html



David's father: I'll never escape stigma of Madonna's AIDS 'lie'By STEPHEN BEVAN, Mail on Sunday
Last updated at 22:03 28 October 2006


Comments (0) Share .
Yohane Banda
The father of Madonna's adopted orphan has dismissed as a lie the singer's claim on TV that his wife and other children died of AIDS.
Yohane Banda, 32, whose wife died aged 25 after giving birth to 13-month-old David, says he will now have to live with the stigma.
The African peasant farmer also denied the superstar's allegation that he had never visited his son at the orphanage, to which he was entrusted at the age of two weeks.
Speaking on the Oprah Winfrey Show last week, Madonna, 48, said when she met David at the orphanage in Malawi she was told his mother and three siblings had died of AIDS, while his father's whereabouts were unknown.
But Mr Banda, who lives in the village of Lipunga, close to the border with Zambia, said: "She never went for an HIV test and she died in Zambia at her parents' house, so how could anyone know if that is what she died of?"
The clinic she attended when she became ill during pregnancy had diagnosed anaemia, he added.
Later, when she was admitted to hospital in Malawi, he was told she had a physical condition that made childbirth very risky.
Mr Banda insisted he had two other children - not three as Madonna was told - one of whom had died of malaria, while the other died suddenly at 18 months from an unknown cause. Neither was HIV positive as far as he knew.
Mr Banda said he was worried that if people believed Madonna's claims, they would stigmatise him.
In the TV interview, Madonna said David had been abandoned by his family. "No one from his extended family had visited him since he arrived," she told Oprah. But Mr Banda insisted this was also "a lie", adding: "I visited David many times, too many to count."
The baby was also visited by his grandmother, while Mr Banda's brother, Profera, "saw him almost every day, sometimes twice a day".
Despite his anger at the slurs, Mr Banda refused to blame Madonna and instead accused the orphanage of giving her "false information".
However, an official at the Home of Hope Orphan Care Centre insisted: "We gave her no such information," and instead pointed the finger at Malawi's Ministry of Gender and Child Welfare.
Meanwhile, although David has been in the UK for less than two weeks, Madonna has introduced him to her Kabbalah faith.
The move is likely to upset Mr Banda, who was told his son was going to "a very nice Christian lady". Madonna took the toddler to the Friday night Shabat ceremony at the Central London Kabbalah Centre, and invited other children to "come and play with baby David".
The boy even wore the Kabbalah red string bracelet, believed by followers to ward off evil spirits.


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-413228/Davids-father-Ill-escape-stigma-Madonnas-AIDS-lie.html#ixzz2QSE8DWd1
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook

well it's possible that both Mr. Banda, and Madonna are telling the truth. It sounds like both Mr. Banda and Madonna were being manipulated by the Malawian authorities, and I have sympathy for both if that is the case.

I hope that Madonna will support her son David when he's older if he wants to contact his biological father.

[the truth]

well it's possible that both Mr. Banda, and Madonna are telling the truth. It sounds like both Mr. Banda and Madonna were being manipulated by the Malawian authorities, and I have sympathy for both if that is the case.

I hope that Madonna will support her son David when he's older if he wants to contact his biological father.

no it sounds like madonna was lying and slandering a poor uneducated father who was powerless to defend himself against these falseties, she said plenty more too about him being an absentee father, etc just to make herself appear a better person in front of her multi millionaire feminist audience who of course clapped like seals and never once questioned the pack of lies she was telling them, I hope this man takes legal action if he could ever afford it, he wasnt even made aware she was taking his baby permanently. you can bet he will play no part in the babys life, disgusting

[lostalex]

no it sounds like madonna was lying and slandering a poor uneducated father who was powerless to defend himself against these falseties, she said plenty more too about him being an absentee father, etc just to make herself appear a better person in front of her multi millionaire feminist audience who of course clapped like seals and never once questioned the pack of lies she was telling them, I hope this man takes legal action if he could ever afford it, he wasnt even made aware she was taking his baby permanently. you can bet he will play no part in the babys life, disgusting

He abandoned his son. That's a fact. You don't give your son to an orphanage unless you are abandoning him, because you cannot care for him. If he wanted to keep his son, he would have given his son his own food, he would have starved himself to give food for his son, he would have done whatever it took to keep his son. he ABANDONED his son. period. Mr. Banda is not starving, and Mr. Banda seems to be a healthy man, so clearly he has enuf food to feed himself.

When you put your son in an orphanage you understand that you are abandoning them. If it wasn't a super rich megastar that adopted him, do you honestly think he would be trying to get back in the child's life? We see this with so many abandoned children, when they strike it rich, all of a sudden parents that abandon their children all of a sudden want to be parents.

[Vanessa]

She's a strong woman, but i don't think she's a bully.

[the truth]

She's a strong woman, but i don't think she's a bully.

whats strong woman got to do with it? shes lied about the father having aids for starters.

[Apple202]

If it wasn't for Madonna, I wouldn't even know Malawi exists.

[2]

Madonna made Malawi

[billy123]

The president should have said to her - It's not you your Lawi, it's Malawi.ladies and gentleman we have a winner.
bcYppAs6ZdI

[Vanessa]

whats strong woman got to do with it? shes lied about the father having aids for starters.

That's not what this thread is about.

[the truth]

That's not what this thread is about.

yes it is, its about madonna being a bully in adopting this baby

[Vanessa]

yes it is, its about madonna being a bully in adopting this baby

I don't think she's a bully. We'll have to agree to disagree on this.

[swinearefine]

Sounds like Malawi is the real bully here.

[Marsh.]

Sounds like Malawi is the real bully here.

For daring to treat her just like everyone else? She isn't a superior human.

[swinearefine]

For daring to treat her just like everyone else? She isn't a superior human.

That's where your argument falls apart.

Actually idgaf about Madonna.

[Marsh.]

That's where your argument falls apart.

Actually idgaf about Madonna.

Why? Because I suggest there's nothing wrong with Madonna having to go through airport procedures just like anyone else? And that they pulled her up on her lies?

[swinearefine]

Why? Because I suggest there's nothing wrong with Madonna having to go through airport procedures just like anyone else? And that they pulled her up on her lies?

Yeah

[Marsh.]

Yeah

So why shouldn't she?

[swinearefine]

So why shouldn't she?

Well she is a celebrity after all. Have you heard Material Girl?

[Marsh.]

:rolleyes: