Madonna Defends Adoption Of Baby Boy From Malawi

10/18/06 6:00pm

Madonna is defending her adoption of a baby boy from Malawi against claims that she received preferential treatment because of her wealth and celebrity status.

The singer insists that she's abided by the laws of both the African country and the U.K., where she resides. She issued a statement on Tuesday that said she hoped to make the adoption permanent following the 18-month evaluation period that's required by Malawian law.

"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."

Madonna said that she and her film director husband, Guy Ritchie, initiated the adoption process "many months prior to our trip to Malawi," but hadn't disclosed their intentions because they believed that it was a private matter. The couple visited the impoverished nation, where Madonna is helping fund an orphanage program, earlier this month.

They received an interim court order to take custody of 13-month-old David Banda on Oct. 12, but returned to the U.K. without him. They were reunited earlier this week, when members of Madonna's entourage flew back with the boy and delivered him to her house in London.

"After learning that there were over one million orphans in Malawi, it was my wish to open up our home and help one child escape an extreme life of hardship, poverty and, in many cases, death, as well as expand our family," said Madonna. "This was not a decision or commitment that my family or I take lightly."