Madonna Fires Back at President of Malawi on Instagram
Madonna's complicated relationship with Malawi just got weirder this week when the president of the Southeast African nation publicly lashed out at the international pop star.
"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," the office of President Joyce Banda said in a statement. "Kindness, as far as its ordinary meaning is concerned, is free and anonymous. If it can't be free and silent, it is not kindness; it is something else. Blackmail is the closest it becomes," the president's office said.
Ouch. That's a harsh implication. And obviously not the kind of criticism Madonna is willing to take from anyone, president or not. In a statement on her website, Madonna pointed to 10 specific schools that her charity, Raising Malawi, helped build or renovated. She also claimed that thanks to her efforts, "More than 4,800 children who were formerly learning outside, in unsafe buildings or not at all get to attended daily classes."
In addition to figures, Madge took to her Instagram to post some photographic evidence of her good intentions in the region.
Cheekily referencing President Banda's claim that she expected special treatment, Madonna posted a series of photos of herself in Malawi with captions like, "I don't see any red carpets here!" and, "This woman is dancing because her granddaughter is able to attend one of the schools we built."
Whether you think Madonna's efforts should be applauded or you find yourself wary of Western celebrities' charitable efforts in the Third World, you gotta love the picture she posted of her 12-year-old son Rocco "teaching break dance to orphans." Malawi Boogaloo!
59m
22m
1m
24m
1m
22m
44m
5m
1h 21m
1m
2m
1m
21m
41m
1m
1m
1m
20m
2m
1m
1m
6m
9m
8m
1m
5m
2m
46m
10m
20m
24m
24m
1m
23m
3644s
20m
44m
44m
20m
44m
21m
1h 13m
43m
20m
1h 34m
44m
22m
3m
39s
20m
1h 27m
2m
41m
21m
44m
45m
20m
23m
46m
22m
22m
45s
20m
22m
19m
21m
21m
20m
20m
21m
44m
45m
23m
1h 3m
2m
41m
21m
1m
2m
30s
3m
1m
1m
5m
8m
1h 33m
22m
1h 49m
40m
41m
41m
20m
18m
1m