Organisation: Madonna, Yohane Banda

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Madonna, the self-styled queen of pop publicly lashed out at the world's media last week, in response to the controversy generated by her adoption of Malawian baby, David Banda. "Madonna slams media over Malawi adoption row" (Times, 25/10). Speaking on Oprah's US TV show, Madonna refuted allegations both that the adoption had been influenced by her celebrity and wealth, and that the baby's father, illiterate peasant farmer Yohane Banda, had been misled over her intentions for David: "I just wanted to give a child life, says Madonna" (Telegraph, 25/10) and David's father "happily agreed to the adoption" (Daily Mail, 24/10). To critics claiming she fast-tracked Malawian regulations, Madonna stated: "it doesn't matter who you are or how much money you have, nothing goes fast in Africa" (Guardian, 25/10).

Some of the press remained skeptical over Mrs Ritchie's emotional TV appearance: "Madonna in PR blitz as she defends adoption" headlined The Scotsman (26/10), while the Daily Record commented, "every clued-up star knows … a cosy chat with Oprah is a million times more effective than a press release" (27/10). The Observer cynically summed up that even if Madonna lost "the battle (and her orphan)" she would still "have won the war by securing her new reputation as a global do-gooder" (27/10).

Analysis and commentary by Echo Research. This article and further information is at: www.echoResearch.com