Big Brother Africa star shields Madonna
Malawi’s Big Brother Africa star Hazel Warren has told critics of Madonna’s twin adoptions in the southern African nation to back off, and branded as racist those who accuse the pop queen of turning her back on deprived white children in favour of blacks.
Hazel, the first high-profile Malawian celebrity to wad into the long-running debate on the ethics of international adoptions that has sucked in dozens of rights groups, did not pull any punches in a broadside at Madonna’s critics.
The US star this month adopted Chifundo ‘Mercy’ James, four, from Malawi – her second adoption there in as many years. In 2006, she adopted David Banda, three, and has two children of her own – Lourdes, 12, and Rocco, eight.
Hazel, 25, who has not ruled out adopting herself, rubbished the “wiser than thou” attitude of those opposed to the adoption of David and Mercy because of their skin colour, saying it smacked of full-blown racism.
”These (views) are racist . . . (should) Europeans adopt white Europeans only?” she said, in response to some public sentiments that Madonna should have adopted her own kind, from Eastern Europe or her native US.
” Yes, there are disadvantaged white children in European countries. However, these children are far more fortunate than their black counterparts in Africa who have no food, no clothes, no education and no medical care. Should it be a big deal then for someone to adopt a child and make their life better whether they are black or white?”
Madonna herself acknowledged in an interview in 2006 after adopting David that she was a victim of a racial smear campaign.
She told US TV show NBC News: “There is a lot of racism in the world . . . A lot of people have a problem with the fact that I have adopted an African child.”
She said this is did not bother her at all as “I don’t live in a white world (but) a world”.
Both her adoptions have triggered a chorus of protests globally, with some web sites and blogs swamped by comments accusing the star and other international celebrities of treating their adopted children as nothing little more than “fashion accessories” or “trophies.”
”Just an accessory. Kids are not possessions,” fumed Suzanne in a comment posted on American web site www.TMZ.com in response to Madonna’s latest adoption.
”It’s just the new Hollywood fad. Despicable,” complained G in separate remarks.
Brooke, in a message posted on www.USMagazine.com, said: “We should take care of our own before we help other countries.”
Another by Just a Thought questioned when it would become “trendy” for celebrities to adopt American children.
Others have suggested on different sites that Madonna would go to any lengths to hog the limelight and that the adoptions in Africa were part of carefully choreographed media exercise to keep herself in the spotlight.
She shot to worldwide fame in the 1980s with blockbuster dance hits such as Holiday.
Other stars who have adopted children over the years, although not necessarily of a different skin colour, include Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, former couple Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman, Meg Ryan, Steven Spielberg, Michelle Pfeiffer, Hugh Jackman and Lionel Ritchie.
They have adopted from China, Cambodia, Ethiopia, Vietnam and the US.
But none of their goodwill gestures has raised as much dust as Madonna’s, leading her legion of fans to cry foul.
Hazel said Madonna should be commended for giving a refreshingly new meaning to the lives of Mercy and David, saying their future and that of other disadvantaged children was paramount.
Malawi’s antiquated adoption laws with a strict residency clause had helped fuel the controversy surrounding Madonna, she said. These needed reviewing to facilitate future adoptions while at the same time safeguarding the welfare of the children.
The reality television star dismissed suggestions that Madonna’s financial clout was pivotal in her adoption victories and that the authorities had no choice but to dance to her tune. The Material Girl singer has reportedly funnelled some $19 million into her Raise Malawi charity.
Hazel, who is single, would not rule out adopting herself.
She said: “I have been considering it. There are already many children who need to be taken care of. These children need love and need to grow up in a family setting.
”I think it would definitely be an amazing feeling knowing that a child has a better life because you have come into their life.”
While the onus was on Madonna to ensure that David and Mercy maintained their family ties and culture, Hazel hoped the youngsters would live to do their adoptive mother and Malawi proud.
Tagged with: Chifundo' Mercy' James, David Banda, Hazel Warren, Madonna
A PEMPHO LAKOYO MUKUNAMA INU NDI AKU WEST INDIES KAPENA? OBAMA MAKOLO AKE ANACHOKERA KU KENYA AND OBAMA NDI WAKUDA HAZEL AKUNENA ZOONA NANU AKUCHITANI ADOPT MADONNA CHIFUKWA UMPHAWI UKUKUPWETEKANI MPAKANA PANTI WA ULUSI WA KHONJE
Will all the people against Madonna’s adoption of these poor little kids just shut up.If you got problems with it just shun the story and act as if you live in the jungle.She is just giving these little kids a life that they would not athorwise had.You just talk,talk,talk but you cannot help these children!!
She is doing a great job in raising the countries poverty and other issues.What have you done to the country and other poor kids yourself apart from jealousy and not shutting your big mouths up?
Anthuni osamangovomereza poti tonse Hazel timamukonda ayi. Hazel ukunenachi ndichilungamo koma ine ndikugwirizana ndi mfundo zako, osati poti ndiwe ‘our best ambassador ever’ . Ukazanyachula ndizakhala mmodzi oyambilira kkukudzudzula so don’t bask in the sun. Watch your tongue!
its time to reflect. these people who are in non-gvt organisation dealing with orphans are the ones who are misusing aid aimed at orphans by giving themselves big salaries and allowances as a result orphans suffering. they are bitter because they thought modonna will be helping the orpans through them. that is the reason they are creating all this nonsense allegations on madonna.just find out how much these organisations are are getting and how much is reaching the poor..i promise you will be shocked. some one who is there to help the orpans doesnt need to be driving posh cars and living in big houses while the orphans sleep on empty stomach. its a disgrace. thanks madanna for opening our eyes and you are welcome to help our malawians orphans no matter what these people say ..i know you are a strong woman..god bless you
Well done Madonna.Ndili mudiaspora koma recession iyi yavuta..sinasankhe mtundu.Alipo azungu ena azaferamo asanauwone moyo umene david and mercy are going to lead.Madonna doesn’t take any shit from these bullshit racist.Zawo izo david ndi mercy are celeb kids.
Lol Madonna, Cool Dude take no notice of all the rubbish out there. You have got Mercy and David focus on positive issues. They will bark and bark but that will not change anything. Look after our babies ukafuna winanso this time please take me am your agemate so i will be playing with you lol
Malawians are really poor! Poor in thought as well and this gets me worried everyday.
The issue of Madonna is not about race and shame on Hazel for having such a myopic view of the Madonna’s adoption. The issue here is about a celebrity who is bulldozing the system because she has money.
As someone has argued above that the west has social protection systems to take care of the vulnerable. why can’t we fight to have the children taken care of right here in Malawi instead of shipping them off to the west? Why do we always think that handouts will lead us to prosperity? Why can’t we accept who and what we are and work with what we have?
The problem with supporters of Madonna’s adoption is they only look at her money and think that the life of her adopted children better. According to Madonna, the reason that she adopted Mercy James was because ‘David needs a sister’ Oh my God! I have just found the racist in this issue… Madonna. Doesn’t she have two daughters? are these not good enough to be David’s sisters since he’s part of her family?
The Hazel’s this world need to be enlightned about some of these issues.
Iwe Hazel ur a coward, where were u all this time the fight for the adoption of this little chap was on. I guess you were hiding and ur coming out in the open to fool us as if you really care for these kids. Iweyo ndi a china Bamusi komanso Mwakasungula, Muluzi, Chilumpha, Mpasu Etc! zanu ndi zimodzi zomadikilira kaye kuti u should run out of sorts ndiye muzivomereza bwino. We are even more intelligent than you and don’t think u have that voice now when the young chap is already in the US, SHAME! Komanso inu a nyasa times don’t brand this shit bigbrother africa star i will agree if it were CODE Sangala,Zain Duhda was copletely a stranger in the house and didn’t know exactly why he was in the house! shame to Malawi, likewise this hazel did nothing in the house apart from just fooling herself ndi mbuzi inzake ya ku South afrika ija— I pray you don’t take this comment personal, ndi chilungamo cheni-cheni ndimazitsata kwambiri zimenezi!!
Ndapita ndiye wina andipute dala tiwonesana! chilungamo ndi chimene ndanenachi period !!
after all who is hazel to be commenting on this adoption thing. little by little we are selling our belove country to un known victims like you and the crue known as madonna. soon we will be all foriegners here. and just know that malawi is in lake malawi because the lake is bigger than land so watch out and wake up pple. mulopwana khaleriwa, kucheza ndi kudyapo, ngati siudyapo ndiye siunacheze. madonna anabwera kuzacheza ndipo anadyapo ndipo akudyabe.
walera uchamvo( kucheza ndikudyapo)