Adopting the boy "was not a decision or commitment that my family or I take lightly," Madonna said, addressing controversies surrounding the adoption.
"We have gone about the adoption procedure according to the law, like anyone else who adopts a child. Reports to the contrary are totally inaccurate," she said. A coalition of human rights groups is seeking to block the adoption because laws in Malawi state that only residents of the African country can adopt children from there.
The pop star, 48, and her husband, director Guy Ritchie, 38, have been granted temporary custody of David Banda, 13 months, who had been living in a Malawian orphanage. After an 18-month evaluation period, the singer plans to make the adoption permanent. The couple live in London with her daughter, Lourdes, 10, and their son, Rocco, 6.
When the Malawian child arrived at London's Heathrow Airport, Madonna's staff was swarmed by photographers, who also lined the streets in front of the singer's home. Pictures of Madonna with David taken in Malawi earlier this month appear in OK! magazine, on stands nationwide Thursday.
Malawi. The child's father, Yohame Banda, is shown holding up an image of his son, David, who was put in an orphanage after the boy's mother died.
News RSS