Madonna hits back over Malawi row: ‘I will not be distracted’
Madonna has hit back at Malawi President Joyce Banda, accusing her office of “spreading lies” through a strong worded statement her office issued on Wednesday.
The pop diva was reportedly angered after the country’s government did not treat her like a VIP when she, her four children and her entourage were made to queue and check-in with ordinary passengers at the Kamuzu International Airport on their departure from Malawi last week.
President Banda’s office responded with an explosive statement accusing Madonna of making unreasonable demands “because she believes she is a music star turned benefactor who is doing Malawi good.”
“Granted Madonna has adopted two children from Malawi,” point number three reads of an excoriating 11-point statement attacking on the singer. It goes on to say that “Madonna wants Malawi to be forever chained to the obligation of gratitude.”
Claiming that Madonna had accused the President’s sister Anjimle Oponyo of “pulling the strings against her” because the singer not been “receiving the attention and the graces that she believes she deserved”, the statement archly points out that other celebrities of “equally dazzling stature” – including Chuck Norris, Bono and footballers David James, Rio Ferdinand and Gary Neville – had all conducted themselves with more decorum on charitable trips to the country.
Madonna called the allegations “ridiculous”.
“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,” she said in a statement on Raising Malawi’s website.
Madonna has adopted two children from the southern African country, David in 2006, and Mercy in 2009.
Follow and Subscribe Nyasa TV :
