Madonna's Mission: Malawi Complete
(E! Online)
Yahoo Music | 439 days 14 hours 52 minutes ago E! Online - Madonna isn't trying to keep up with the Jolie-Pitts after all.
The pop star has returned to London with just the same two children she left with after spending six days on a charity trip to Malawi, making good on her word that she would not be adding any more tots to her burgeoning brood while abroad. Since touching down in Malawi last week, the British tabloids had gone wild with reports that the Material Mama was looking to adopt a three-year-old daughter named Grace, despite the singer adamantly denying that she was racking up frequent flier miles in an attempt to bolster the Ritchie family's numbers. Rep Liz Rosenberg issued a pre-trip statement denying that the entertainer was in the country to adopt, instead saying simply that Madonna was in the country to check on the progress of several projects started by her Raising Malawi charity. On Sunday Rosenberg formally denied the latest incarnation of the adoption rumor. "Madonna is not adopting Grace or any other child from Malawi—or anywhere else," she told People. "She does not know any child named Grace." According to several British tabloids, Madonna not only knew Grace, but had met with her at an orphanage and requested, prior to her trip, to have a video made of the girl to help the superstar better get to know her. Unlike her last trip to Malawi just six months ago, Madonna left with the same kids she arrived with: David and Lourdes. Meanwhile, it remains unclear whether the singer actually met with David's biological father, Yohane Banda. Rosenberg said she was unsure if the two managed to get together, which was echoed by the Associated Press reporter who trailed the Madonna entourage through Malawi. However, People, citing a source at the Home for Hope orphanage where the boy once resided, claimed a planned face to face was called off. Reuters, meanwhile, countered with its own intelligence, reporting several eyewitnesses observed the reunion of father and son, which reportedly took place Thursday at the orphanage. At any rate, all sources agree that there was one other high-profile meeting that fell to the wayside during Madonna's trip: one with Nelson Mandela. The "Hung Up" singer and her children were meant to head to South Africa after decamping from Malawi to meet with the former president, though Mandela reportedly had to cancel the meeting due to more pressing schedule conflicts. Not that the Queen of Pop was lacking in get-togethers while in country. Shortly after arriving in Malawi, Madonna attended the opening of a children's healthcare center and visited David's old orphanage, a visit that resulted in several young children hurling rocks at the swarming paparazzi that had gathered to chronicle the singer's every move. By the end of the visit, the rock throwers were dispersed and Madonna, Lourdes and David agreed to pose for a makeshift family portrait for the photographers. Patriarch Guy Ritchie didn't make the trip, instead remaining in London with son Rocco. As for the adoption of David, the Ritchies were granted 18-month interim custody of the boy last fall, during which time Malawi officials will check on the progress of the boy before signing off. The first formal visit is set to take place at the couple's London home next month. Meanwhile, Madonna's honorary British citizenship has apparently come through, with the singer receiving a leading two nominations for the U.K.'s Ivor Novello songwriting awards Monday, tying Elton John for the most nods received. The awards, honoring the best of British songwriters, composers and music publishers, will be doled out May 24.
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