Pop superstar Madonna has refuted rumors that she has adopted a one-year-old boy from Malawi. The 48-year-old singer was reported to have adopted the orphaned boy from around 12 boys who were selected by Malawian officials.
However Liz Rosenberg, Madge's publicist has denied these reports. Speaking to People, she said, "I can confirm Madonna is in Malawi on a private visit. She is building an orphanage and child care center and is involved in other initiatives geared toward helping children orphaned by AIDS through the Raising Malawi organization."
Rosenberg categorically denied that Madonna had adopted a baby. She also told Reuters that the pop diva was not bothered about the rumors since they would serve to deflect attention on the state of the children in Malawi. "She wants people to pay attention to Malawi and to the one million children who don't have parents and don't have care there," she added.
The rumors were started off after Malawi government spokesperson Adrina Michiela told reporters that Madonna has requested the government to select 12 boys prior to her visit with the intention of adopting one. "She asked us to identify boys only, which we have done after visiting four orphanages in Lilongwe," Michiela had said.
Whether the reports are true or not, Madonna has always been forthright about her desire to help Africa's 12 million orphans. In an interview to Time magazine in August, Madonna had revealed her desire to do so. "For the last few years--now that I have children and now that I have what I consider to be a better perspective on life--I have felt responsible for the children of the world," she said.
Madonna has also announced plans to get together at least $3 million for Malawi in order to set up health and economic facilities.
