Angelina Jolie speaks out about Madonna’s adoption of David
by CBB correspondent Sarah Elizabeth
Update: Angelina has released a statement, saying, "The article included many falsehoods. I said many positive things that were omitted. I feel we must focus on the present and I encourage everyone to be supportive so that every child can adjust nicely to their new home."
Originally posted 12 noon: In the French celebrity weekly magazine Gala, Angelina Jolie spoke about Madonna and the adoption controversy that she has faced. Madonna’s adoption of David Banda last year led some right groups in Malawi to question whether the American pop star had used her celebrity to bypass laws governing the adoption of Malawians by foreigners — an argument denied by her lawyers.
"I was horrified by the attacks against her…all that should count is the happiness of her little David." Angelina, who has two adopted children herself, told Gala.
But Angelina added that she would have steered clear of adoption from a country like Malawi. Apparently, she said, "Madonna knew the situation in Malawi … In this country, there is not really a legal framework for adopting. Personally, I prefer staying on the right side of the law. I would never bring back a child from a country where adoption is illegal."
Angelina and boyfriend Brad Pitt have formed one of Hollywood’s most glamorous and multi-ethnic families with baby daughter Shiloh, Zahara, and Maddox.
Source: French magazine Gala via TV Guide
Do you agree with Angelina? Or do you think she should have kept her opinion to herself?
- Posted on Jan 8, 07 at 11:50AM
- Permalink
- 28 Comments
January 8th, 2007 at 11:58 am
I think that everyone has the right to voice their opinions. It was very true what Ange has said. I like Madonna but the way things are in Malawi…
January 8th, 2007 at 12:01 pm
Angelina needs to shut it now. Firstly, who made her the spokeswoman for adoption (the media did)? Secondly, and more importantly, what about the fact that Madonna said she fell in love with _this_ child? Doesn’t that count for something in Angelina’s world? It’s not like deciding to buy a dress at this shop over this shop or something…Madonna had been working in Malawi and has an attachment to the place. Angelina should call us when her high horse dies.
January 8th, 2007 at 12:29 pm
Why should she keep her opinion to herself? We didn’t. We all had an opinion about the adoption and many of us voiced it on this blog and others. Angelina is right. Madonna did circumvent the system but in the end the only person who matters is David. It is better for him to be with Madonna and Guy then to be left in an orphanage.
Here’s Angelina’s exact quote:
“I have been horrified by the attacks she’s been subjected to,” Jolie tells the French magazine Gala. “All that should count is the happiness of her little David.”
January 8th, 2007 at 12:33 pm
I forgot to add. Angelina did NOT give an interview to Gala. Gala is piecing together parts of old interviews to make it look like a new one. I hate when magazines do this. When quotes are taking out of context, they can be manipulated in such a way to seem negative. They did the same to Madonna to start controversy.
January 8th, 2007 at 12:42 pm
I personally think she should have kept her opinion to herself. She talks too much lately..
January 8th, 2007 at 1:13 pm
I don’t see anything wrong with her comments, though because this interview was initially transcribed from Gala (which is a French type celebrity magazine/tabloid) what she actually said and the tone in which she said it could very possibly be lost in translation. I don’t follow Angelina closely but I did catch part of her Larry King interview when she was asked her opinion and she stated she didn’t know enough about the situation to comment but she thought it was good thing saving the child’s life. That statement isn’t really in keeping with the comment in this article about how Madonna ‘knew’ of the country’s adoption’s laws etc. The statements are contradictory, IMO. Sounds like some journalistic liberty was taken by Gala to perhaps spark some drama and sell a few more magazines.
January 8th, 2007 at 1:16 pm
I think she’s got a ponit when she says she should have thought about all the legal surrounding adoption in Malawi. If adopting is illegal in that country, she should have never brought David with her. Anyway, I hope everything turns good for this little boy, because it seems like everyone is adopting children, and it seems like they are doing it because hollyood is doing it. They should think about the future of all these little boys and girls (remember “Mommy Dearest”?).
January 8th, 2007 at 1:19 pm
I think Angelina was correct in speaking her mind. She said nothing offensive or insulting. She did note, however that Madonna’s adoption in a country where it’s illegal was not something Angelina herself, would do. I think this sends a good message to those thinking to adopt: keep on the right side of the law, and you will be working towards a smoother adoption process. I don’t remember any (real) controveries surrounding AJ’s adoptions of Mad or Z.
January 8th, 2007 at 1:21 pm
What I think is that the press needs to stop re-hashing old news just to cause drama. she said this a month ago. Now, they’re just twisting the words around to make it seem like she said this recently.
January 8th, 2007 at 1:37 pm
French Gala magazine is a gossipmagazine. I don’t believe they had an interview with Angelina in the first place. This is one of the many gossipmagazine which uses older quotes of celebrities and then fabricates some quotes to go with those old quotes to make it appear they had some new interview.
January 8th, 2007 at 1:58 pm
To the people who thinks she should’ve kept her mouth shut: Do you always stay quiet? Do you never voice your opinions when asked to? If you have the right knowledge that is…otherwise I hope you remain silent.
January 8th, 2007 at 2:15 pm
I didn’t know Gala was a rag. I do hope the things she said were taken out of context.
And yes, everyone is free to have their opinion blah blah…she is just getting so overexposed on this topic. I used to really like Angelina before the whole Brad thing…but now she is portrayed (not saying this is her choice) like the second coming of Mother Teresa. Anyone that thinks Madonna’s interim adoption is illegal (not talking about Angelina here) is a little out of touch with the reality of the law, in any country. Malawi did not have an adoption system in place, not quite the same as it being illegal. She hardly swept in there and took David like a thief in the night. That would be kidnapping…let’s be rational.
January 8th, 2007 at 2:19 pm
This comment is directed at mars. First of all, mars-I am a parent in the process of adopting a child from China. Parent’s are not adopting internationaly because it is what hollywood is doing. I find that comment very offensive. Do you personally know that to be true? I am adopting because I have gone through years of infertility issues and I want to be a parent more then anything else in the world. I also want to give a child a good home who otherwise may not have one. These children who don’t get adopted are left in orphanges with no hopes of a descent life. So by adopting them, my family and other adoptive families ARE thinking about the children. I know that the adoptive community feels the same way as I do and I know that they would be just as offended as I am.
January 8th, 2007 at 3:16 pm
Angelina released this statement today
“The article included many falsehoods. I said many positive things that were omitted. I feel we must focus on the present and I encourage everyone to be supportive so that every child can adjust nicely to their new home.”
January 8th, 2007 at 3:46 pm
well, if this interview contained many falsehoods then the Elle interview could have been spun to make her look bad too. Nobody knows. I think its all in your interpretation. Ang knows the truth. I still think she is a great humanitarian and a wonderful mother!
January 8th, 2007 at 4:32 pm
I like this little gem from Elle :
“I think I feel so much more for Madd and Zee because they’re survivors, they came through so much. Shiloh seemed so privileged from the moment she was born. I have less inclination to feel for her…I met my other kids when they were six months old, they came with a personality. A newborn really is this…Yes, a blob! But now she’s starting to have a personality…I’m conscious that I have to make sure I don’t ignore her needs, just because I think the others are more vulnerable.”
You’d think she was talking about puppies and not children. No offense but I wish her fiteen minutes would end, there are better parents and more talented people out there. Not to mention people who give their time and energy to charity and don’t call the press before hand or go on national tv to pat themselves on the back.
Back to my hole now!
January 8th, 2007 at 4:50 pm
This comment goes to mdterp- I’m really sorry if I offended you in any way, I never meant mi comment to sound that way, but now that I have read it again I see your point. What I meant, is that a lot of famous people are adopting children right now (even against the law!) and it really worries me because it makes me think about the real intentions of some of them. In Madonna’s case, David Banda’s adoption isn’t even legal in Malawi, but just because she is Maddona she made her way, so she could bring that boy home with her (even if she’s giving him a better life, law is first, and she’s going to make that poor boy go trough a lot by not making things right). Normal people could never do that, and a legal adoption takes years of patience, hard work and a lot of money. Sometimes I feel like SOME (and just some) famous people adopt children so they can be seen as marvelous and kind; on the other hand, you have people like yourself, who adopt children so they can give them a better life and a loving family.
I totally agree with you, adoption is the greatest, sweetest, kindest thing in the world, because you are giving a child the oportunity to have a better life, surrounded by loving parents. I’m sorry if I offended you with my past comment. I hope I made my self clearer this time.
My best wishes on your adoption, I hope you get the most beautiful child and you get to have the family I bet you have been wishing for years.
January 8th, 2007 at 5:41 pm
Madonna didnt chose the baby because he was from this or that country like Angelina seems to do. She liked baby David and went for it.
January 8th, 2007 at 5:57 pm
The Elle interview came about the same way the Gala interview came about. A bunch of reporters in a room asking Angelina Jolie questions during promotion for The Good Shepherd. The questions are asked by this reporter and that reporter and then the quotes are spun into a story for a particular magazine. Some of the reporters do not speak English as a primary language so words/quotes are lost in translation. It just doesn’t happen to Angelina Jolie but to all celebrities. The problem arises when people would rather bash a celebrity than to do any real research as to what context the quote was said. Angelina Jolie seems to be a great mother who loves all her children equally but that doesn’t make for an interesting story and the gullible masses eat the sensational stuff up. Some of those gullible masses are in this thread. JMHO
Also Madonna made the adoption harder than it should have been by choosing a country with laws basically making it difficult for international adoptions to take place. However, at the end of the day David is better off with the Richies than some orphanage. Isn’t this the essence of what Angelina Jolie has said on Larry King Live? I agree with her.
January 8th, 2007 at 6:49 pm
Thank you for the apology mars. I truly appreciate it. I understand what you are saying about what Hollywood is doing. I know that Malawi bent the rules for Madonna because of how much money she gave them and because of who she is. “Normal” people like me and others spend years and a lot of money trying to bring home one of these children. It just doesn’t seem right sometimes how they can get what they want immediately and not have to go through what the rest of us have to go through. I do know however that the child who is meant to be ours will come to us when it is time and that is how I get through this. Thanks again for the apology! I understand your point.
January 8th, 2007 at 6:59 pm
I agree with what Angelina said, however as she is a celebrity in the same situation as Madge she should have kept out of it. A celebrity commenting on another is always going to be a ‘big thing’ especially when there is already a media circus.
What I had trouble with was the quote “I prefer staying on the right side of the law. I would never bring back a child from a country where adoption is illegal.” The ‘adoption’ agency that Angelina adopted Maddox from has been shut down due to illegal practices. Has Angelina given a thought to that?
January 8th, 2007 at 7:21 pm
Heavenly – that doesn’t mean Angelina did anything illegal or holds any responsibility for the actions of the adoption agency. She was just one of hundreds of parents who used that adoption agency. This doesn’t mean she was on the wrong side of the law. The agency was.
January 8th, 2007 at 7:24 pm
If someone asks me about something, I’d give an honest answer too. Madonna did adopt from a country where there isn’t a legal system of adoption; Angie has every right to comment on that too. She didn’t call Madonna names; she expressed her position on the subject in the dignified manner she always does.
January 8th, 2007 at 7:29 pm
Regarding the whole Madonna adoption issue, I have said that I do not agree with it in philosophy for several reasons. Carolyn’s comment seems benign until you realize that ANYONE (pedophile, child rapists) can “fall in love” with a child, and want to take them away and “give them a life” as Madonna has stated, but that does not mean that they have the right to just take the child away from their homeland! Madonna should have to follow the same laws as everyone else who desires a child, and the nation of Malawi has stated that, absent any laws governing the process, they should monitor Madonna’s childrearing techniques before final considerations are made. That does not mean that Madonna is an unfit mother, it just means that they care about their people, and want to do everything they can to protect their most vulnerable resource – their children. What’s so wrong with that? If anyone is being irrational, it’s Madonna.
Also, if Madonna’s marriage is on the rocks, as the media claims, what justification does she have to take away a child that still has a natural parent that just recently remarried?? I know I am ranting here, but let’s start to call a spade a spade (no pun intended).
January 8th, 2007 at 9:58 pm
Angelina has enough drama in her own life she can talk about. I have never cared either way about her, but I cringe now that she is with Brad. She has nothing but her track record to go by. I don’t believe her when she says she and Brad started a relationship after his separation. (I and the rest of the world can add and subtract – months of a pregnancy) I agree with it’s a free world, but be honest. She broke up yet another relationship (well she involved herself with someone who was involved with someone else). I think she AND Brad are trying to spin everything surrounding them so they don’t look like the bad guys.
January 8th, 2007 at 10:55 pm
So sabrinasmom you’re saying Angelina Jolie should not comment on David’s adoption because you believe she and Brad had an affair? Way to stick on topic and live in 2005. Good luck with that.
Angelina has the right like all of us to speak her mind.
January 9th, 2007 at 12:36 am
Sarah:
If you were a UN Ambassador, you WOULD call a press conference when you visit a country, or at least have a camera crew. It’s a requirement to document the visit. The UN also issues press releases to the media and their UNHCR website.
We all have to be more informed….
January 9th, 2007 at 12:25 pm
Mdterp, thanks for understanding my point and taking my apology. I really wish for you to get the little boy or girl you are hoping for. I am from Spain, and here we have a lot of families (with infertility issues mostly) that have adopted chinese girls (because of families not being able to have more than one child, and as you know, because of social and historic related issues they preffer to have boys). What I want to say, is that I have known a lot of families who have had the blessing to be able to take one of these precious girls home with them. I admire so much people like you, who figth so many years, and spend so many time and money to be able to bring a child home with them.
Again, I really hope you get to have a little boy or girl with you, as soon as it can be, and as you said, that little angel will come to your life in the right time and moment.
I’m realy sorry again if I offended you in any way, and thanks for understanding my comment wasn’t mean to hurt anyone.