Madonna’s Adoption Bid Denied Despite Her “Adoption Party”

Madonna’s bid for the adoption of little Mercy James has been rejected by a judge in Malawi - despite the fact that the singer planned an adoption party for the debut of her latest accessory.

The bid was shot down because Malawi adoption laws state a person must have lived in the country for 18 months to be eligible to adopt from there. The law was waived during Madonna’s adoption of David Banda in 2006, sparking allegations that Madonna was using her celebrity status to circumvent the legal process. One person who seemed to waver in his opinion on the adoption was David’s biological father, whom the little boy visited for the first time since his adoption during this very trip. 

Madonna has reportedly been so confident that her bid for adoption would be accepted that she planned a party to celebrate it. Among the guests partying at Malawi’s Kumbali Lodge were staff from Raising Malawi - an organization that facilitated the adoption process, government officials, teachers Madonna had hired for her Raising Malawi Academy, and Mercy’s uncles Peter Baneti and John Ngalande. The singer hired traditional dancers to perform at the event with the expectation that a judge would sign off on the adoption this morning. 

What do you think of the judge’s decision? 

Madonna’s adoption bid rejected by Malawi judge [EW]

Madonna Throws a Pre-Adoption Party in Malawi [Us Weekly]