Russian official targets Madonna with crude tweet

A senior ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin used an obscene Twitter post to attack Madonna after the pop star called for the release of three women who face prison over an irreverent performance in Moscow's main cathedral.

Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin, a nationalist politician and former envoy to NATO, posted the tweet on Friday after Madonna told a Moscow concert audience the jailed members of punk band Pussy Riot were "courageous" and deserved to be free.

"Every ex-wh*re tends to lecture everybody with age. Especially during world tours and concerts," Rogozin, who now leads Russia's drive to upgrade the army and defence industry, wrote in a tweet in English.

The microblog posting was a crudely worded echo of frequent warnings by Russian officials that Moscow will not accept Western "preaching" on human rights and democracy, a message Putin has repeatedly delivered during 12 years in power.

Madonna, who is American, donned a balaclava like those worn by Pussy Riot performers during her concert in Moscow on Tuesday night and was cheered loudly when she offered her support.

Maria Alyokhina, 24, Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, 22, and Yekaterina Samutsevich, 30, stormed the altar of Russia's main cathedral on February 21 and sang a "punk prayer" calling on the Virgin Mary to rid Russia of Putin, who was then campaigning to return to the presidency after four years as prime minister.

Prosecutors want a judge to sentence them to three years in prison for hooliganism motivated by religious hatred.

They have been in jail since shortly after their performance, which offended many in mostly Orthodox Christian Russia, and Kremlin critics see their trial as part of a crackdown on dissent as Putin starts a new six-year term.

The women have said the performance was meant as criticism of close ties between Putin and the Russian Orthodox Church and the clear if informal support its leader, Patriarch Kirill, gave Putin during his successful election campaign.

Excessive reaction?

Western governments and rights groups have said the govermnent's reaction to the "punk prayer" was excessive and are watching the trial closely. The judge is to give a verdict on August 17.

Rogozin, who some analysts view as a potential presidential candidate in the next election in 2018, did not mention Madonna by name in the English tweet on Friday or a Russian one on Wednesday.

But few Internet users had any doubt that he was referring to Madonna, who also spoke out in support of gay rights at a concert in St. Petersburg, Putin's home town, on Thursday night.

"She spoke about freedom, it is the state bureaucrats who are lecturing us every day on all the state channels," a Twitter user called Alexander Oleinik wrote in response to Rogozin's posting in Russian.

"Either take off the cross or put on your panties," Rogozin replied. His spokeswoman confirmed the messages were genuine.

Rogozin, former leader of the nationalist political party Rodina (Motherland), also wrote ironic messages about Pussy Riot, likening their supporters to a religious sect.

Rogozin was appointed deputy prime minister late last year as part of then prime minister Putin's drive to appeal to moderate nationalists.

He is known for his sharply worded criticism of the West and in particular of US and NATO plans for a European missile shield that Moscow calls a threat to its security.

On Friday, a group of Russian Orthodox hardliners burned Madonna's picture outside Moscow's Christ the Saviour cathedral, where Pussy Riot staged its punk protest. Source:http://tvnz.co.nz

Madonna airs 1944 Warsaw Uprising clip amid concert row

WARSAW: US pop star Madonna aired a World War II-era newsreel on the 1944 anti-Nazi Warsaw Uprising at the top of her Wednesday gig in the city marking the day 68 years ago when the bloody insurrection was launched.

Thousands of fans applauded the two-and-a-half minute long film which ran as the concert got underway with nearly an hour's delay, the Polish PAP news agency reported.

Warsaw city hall requested the singer air the clip in the wake of an online petition against her concert by a group of young Catholics furious it would coincide with the Polish capital's annual World War II commemoration of the doomed uprising against the city's Nazi's occupiers.

As of Wednesday, the petition had gathered 54,000 supporters for the "Material Girl's" concert to be called off out of respect for the estimated 200,000 people who died in the 63-day uprising by Polish partisans.

Nazi German dictator Adolf Hitler ordered the deportation of the half-a-million residents who survived before his forces systematically bombarded the city leaving it as little more than a smouldering heap of rubble.

"August 1 is a day of remembrance in Poland. We pay our respects to those who survived and those who perished in the uprising. We won't allow the desecration of our hallowed symbols," reads the Internet petition launched by a group calling itself the Youth Crusade.

Warsaw ground to a halt Wednesday at 5 pm (1500 GMT) and sirens wailed as residents stood still to observe the annual minute's silence across the capital remembering the loss of life in the largest single rebellion against Nazi Germany during WWII.

The Youth Crusade also slammed the 53-year-old Queen of Pop's on-stage antics as "attacking the Catholic faith... offending Jesus Christ by burning crosses and wearing a crown of thorns" as well as promoting homosexuality and pornography.

Warsaw Archbishop Henryk Hoser urged residents to pray against what he termed Madonna's "blasphemous concert". Poland remains one of Europe's most devoutly Roman Catholic countries.

Madonna's ongoing "MDNA" world tour has been been marked with her trademark brand of controversy.

The pop diva outraged fans in France who had paid more than 250 euros (300 dollars) per ticket by quitting the stage in Paris after barely 45 minutes on July 26.

France's far right National Front has taken legal action against her for screening a video showing its leader Marine Le Pen with a swastika on her forehead during an earlier concert in Paris.

The video was also shown at a Tel Aviv gig in May kicking off the tour, covering about 30 countries and wrapping up in Australia in 2013. (AFP)

Critics boo Madonna’s W.E.

VENICE: Madonna may be the "queen of pop," but her crown as movie director slipped this week after most early reviews of her second feature film "W.E." ranged from middling to poor.

The picture, which had its world premiere at the Venice film festival on Thursday, is loosely based on the life of American divorcee Wallis Simpson, whose affair with Kind Edward VIII led to his abdication.

Madonna said she had been fascinated by the story for some time, pondering why a man would make such a huge sacrifice for love.

Andrea Riseborough stars as Simpson and Abbie Cornish as a modern-day woman who becomes obsessed with the person who prompted a constitutional crisis in 1936.
Britain's Guardian newspaper did not spare Madonna's feelings with a one-out-of-five star review.

"Could it be that Madonna is in deadly earnest here?" wrote Xan Brooks.
"If so, her film is more risible than we had any right to expect; a primped and simpering folly, the turkey that dreamed it was a peacock."

Others were less damning, although the general tone was negative and one website quipped that it may be time for the 53-year-old singer to abdicate as a film maker.

Todd McCarthy of the Hollywood Reporter opined: "Madonna's second foray into directing is pleasing to the eyes and ears, but lacking anything for the soul."

And Mark Adams, chief critic for Screen Daily, wrote:
"Madonna aims high as she seeks to tackle love, celebrity, fame, abuse and disappointment, often hitting her targets -- and sometimes not -- but always offering up images that are beautifully shot and staged."

He singled out Riseborough's performance, which he described as "quite brilliant."
The Daily Telegraph gave W.E. three stars out of five, while Baz Bamigboye of the Daily Mail was generally complimentary.

"A lot of people will loathe it, simply because it's been made by Madonna," he wrote.
"But if they were to watch it with no knowledge of who directed, they would be pleasantly surprised. They might even find much of it enjoyable, although the odd moment may have them wondering if Madge has committed treason."

Some of Madonna's collaborators on the picture had wondered whether viewers' judgments might be colored by their opinion of the 53-year-old celebrity.

"When an iconic, global entity is involved it will be interesting to see how people react to that and whether people can judge the film without their own baggage or how they've felt about Madonna for 30 years," producer Kris Thykier told trade publication Variety.

The budget of W.E. is estimated to be around $15 million, and it hits movie theatres in North America in December. (Reuters)

Comic book on Madonna's life published

LOS ANGELES: A comic book covering the life and times of pop superstar Madonna has been published in the America. It is termed a birthday gift to lady singer.

Bluewater Productions Inc. has made her the latest edition to their 'Female Force' comic series. The 32-page book touches every aspect of her life, starting with her childhood.

The 'Female Force' series covers influential women who have shaped modern history and culture.

Hilary Clinton, Oprah Winfrey and Sarah Palin have also been included in the series.

Madonna explains 'subconscious' attraction to Wallis Simpson

She became one of the best known, most photographed and then most vilified American women to ever live in England – Wallis Simpson, that is, the subject of Madonna's new movie W.E., which had its world premiere on the Venice Lido.

Directed by the singer, the film is a sympathetic portrait of star-cross'd lovers Edward and Mrs Simpson.

At a press conference following the film's screening at the world's longest running film festival, now in its 68th year, Madonna told journalists "there was obviously some kind of subconscious attraction" to Simpson.

She added: "I identify with her in that it's very common when people become celebrities or public figures or icons, we are often reduced to a soundbite and you are given a few attributes and then you're not allowed to have any more than that."

Madonna said she had spent three years researching and writing the script for W.E., fascinated by the question of why the king would give up the throne for a married woman.

"I think people try to diminish her as a human being because they didn't understand the choice he was making," she said. "It was important to me, not to make her a saint by any stretch of the imagination because I don't think she was, but to portray her as a human being."

In some ways it was brave of Madonna to bring her film to such a big festival. Three years ago she premiered her previous effort Filth and Wisdom at the Berlin film festival, to the incredulity of critics. The Guardian's Peter Bradshaw wrote at the time that festival goers were "in a state of clinical shock, deathly pale and mewing like maltreated kittens" after watching it.

W.E. is arguably a better film but there were signs of critics sharpening their pencils to damn it. It is certainly a slightly revisionist take on the story, with Edward coming across as a frustrated social reformer demanding better housing for the poor before supping another gin martini.

The film is told through the eyes of a modern New Yorker, Wally Winthrop, played by Abbie Cornish, who becomes fascinated by the story at a Sotheby's auction preview of the couple's effects. Madonna said she chose to tell parallel stories because she did not want to do a "straightforward biopic" and that truth was subjective.

Many people did not understand the choice the King made, she said, a choice that "changed English history, changed the history of the world in many ways."

Madonna has been married to two film directors. When questioned about this she said: "I am and was attracted to very creative people which is why I married Sean Penn and Guy Ritchie, very talented directors, and they both encouraged me as a director to do what I did. They were both very supportive."

Madonna has a patchy record when it comes to film. Aside from Filth and Widsom, she has also acted in a couple of stinkers – not least Swept Away and Body of Evidence.

But this is Madonna, obviously, and she remains undaunted. "I've always loved film, all my life," she said. "As a child I was always inspired by movies and I always had it in the back of my mind that I wanted to make one."

Asked where her spirituality came into the equation, Madonna replied: "Making films is really hard in the first place. You have to believe in your subject matter and be passionate about it because there will be challenges along the way. You have to be prepared like the captain of a ship, no matter what happens you have got to keep going. So your spiritual foundation has to be strong."

Stories abound of how tricky and controlling Madonna can be to work with, but the film's actors could not praise her enough . Andrea Riseborough – who memorably portrayed the young Margaret Thatcher in The Long Walk to Finchley – stars as Wallis Simpson, while James D'Arcy is Edward VIII.

D'Arcy said: "She had very strong vision, was a very clear communicator and a really good laugh." Natalie Dormer, who plays a young Queen Mother, said Madonna encapsulated what it is to be "a strong woman with a vision" adding that she had an incredibly nurturing spirit.

"Considering the epic requirements needed to write and direct a movie, no question was too small or too stupid," she said.

W.E. was showing out of competition at Venice. In competition, meanwhile, was Roman Polanski's Carnage, a movie version of Yasmina Reza's hit play The God of Carnage starring Kate Winslet, Jodie Foster, John C Reilly and Christoph Waltz, which drew whoops among the applause. Source:

Madonna’s school: A barren field of failed dreams

CHINKOTA:The abandoned site looks more like a quarried mine than a pop superstar’s multi-million-dollar dream to groom girls into Malawi’s next leaders and doctors. But the bleak, levelled terraces of gravelly sand near Malawi’s capital are the only evidence of Madonna’s $15 million academy which was ditched in a cloud over misused funds and disgruntled locals.

“This has just become a football ground now,” said local chief Binson Kalenga. The bulldozers are long silent where Madonna — who adopted two children from Malawi — laid a foundation stone engraved ‘dare to dream’ in April 2010, in a village in a desperately poor African country that many could not find on a map. A year later the school had been called off.

The star is being sued by former employees, her charity is tied up in a US tax investigation and the Malawi government is investigating how the land was paid for. “Initially although I welcomed it, personally I was very sceptical about the whole thing,” said Lilongwe district commissioner Paul Kalilombe. In January 2011, she said the academy project was off in favour of helping existing schools across the country. The New York Times reported on an audit, ordered by Madonna, and found $3.8 million squandered on the discarded academy.

In Chinkhota, unhappiness began with payments to villagers for the land which Madonna’s charity Raising Malawi, paid through the government. An explanation is yet to reach villagers, who have to swallow a doubly bitter pill with their former fields ruined and not a classroom in sight. “People were surprised that there is no activity,” said Tsiyent Foroyati. As the biggest landowner around the school’s site, she was paid 39,000 kwacha ($258) in compensation.

For the school, Madonna should have worked with an existing organisation that knows “what is actually happening on the ground”, said Kalilombe who believes an orphanage is planned for the academy site.
“She had good intentions, but implementing the project on the ground brought a lot of complications.”
Chief Kalenga said he wants to ask Madonna why the project failed. “We welcomed her as a fellow Malawian,” he said. “We are heartbroken because of the rumours we still hear about this project being stopped. Madonna should come and tell us what has happened.”

Published in The Express Tribune, Pakistan

Pop star Madonna's directorial venture "W.E." will have its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival

The film is about the life of Britain's King Edward VIII and his American wife Wallis Simpson and a modern-day woman called Wally. It will be screened out-of-competition at the Aug 31-Sep 10 event.

"'W.E.' is about the nature of true love, and the sacrifices and compromises that are often made. I've wanted to tell this story for a very long time, and bringing it to life has been a great adventure for me," Madonna said about her film.

Films included in the competition line-up are "Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy" and Andrea Arnold's new adaptation of classic tale "Wuthering Heights".

"Black Swan" director Darren Aronofsky will chair the competition jury that will pick the winner of the Golden Lion Award.

Madonna 'to open Malawi orphan care centre'

Madonna has revealed plans to open an orphanage in Malawi.
The '4 Minutes' singer, who adopted son David and daughter Mercy from the impoverished South African country, explained her charitable goals in an interview for Ovation's new series American Revolutionaries: The Hitmakers.

Madonna explained: "My short term goals are to build an orphan care centre that will service and reach at least 1,000 children and I'm also actively involved in funding several orphanages that already exist."

It was reported in March that Madonna's charity Raising Malawi had squandered more than £2.4 million ($3.8m) over plans for a school that was never built, leading to an upheaval in the foundation's board of directors.

Madonna was later said to be considering taking legal action against the directors following the financial mismanagement.

She revealed in January 2011 that she planned to restructure Raising Malawi so that the charity could operate on a "bigger scale" in the coming years.

Madonna in Comic Book

Madonna will soon star on the pages of a comic book.The star will have her life story told in 32 pages by Bluewater Productions Inc., the latest celebrity to be part of its semi-regular line of "Female Force" comics.

"Our goal is to show the little-known events and influences that resulted in Madonna becoming the phenomenon she remains to this day, more than a quarter-century after she burst upon the scene," said Jason Schultz, Bluewater's executive vice president.

"A visual medium provides perspective that is not only accessible but more relatable to the average person without losing any of the information involved."

"Most pop stars owe everything to this woman. It's amazing all of the things that she's done in her lifetime".

Lady GaGa: Madonna rip-off claim "retarded"

Lady GaGa has branded an interviewer's suggestion that her single 'Born This Way' is a rip-off of Madonna's 1989 hit 'Express Yourself' as "retarded".

In an interview with NME, the musician briskly responded to a question about the melodic resemblance between the two songs.

"I'm a songwriter. I've written loads of music," GaGa asserted. "Why would I try to put out a song and think I'm getting one over on everybody? That's retarded."

She continued: "What a completely ridiculous thing to even question me about… If you put the songs next to each other, side by side, the only similarities are the chord progression.

"It's the same one that's been in disco music for the last 50 years. Just because I'm the first f**king artist in 25 years to think of putting it on Top 40 radio, it doesn't mean I'm a plagiarist, it means that I'm f**king smart. Sorry!"

The star went on to profess that 'Born This Way' was divinely inspired, remarking: "I feel like, honestly, God sent me those lyrics and that melody... There's no way for something that pure to be wrong."

GaGa previously responded to criticism of the track by telling Tonight Show host Jay Leno that she'd received a supportive e-mail from Madonna and her representatives.

"I am the hugest fan personally and professionally, and the good news is I got an email from her people and her sending me love and complete support," GaGa claimed at the time.

Madonna's stalker claims to be her lover

A man who is accused of trespassing pop diva Madonna's London home claims to be her lover.

The stalker, Grzegorz Matlok has admitted to the prosecutor that he has an intimate relationship with her.

The 29-year-old appeared in court in Westminster and prosecutors claimed he had arrived in Britain from his native Poland hours before the alleged break-in.

According to prosecutor Punal Chopra, "Matlok, as he explained in his interview, has initially rung the doorbell, it has not been answered, so he climbed onto the balcony using a rope he brought with him."

"He entered bedrooms and bedclothes have been disturbed, particularly the bed belonging to the artist. He explained to police he had travelled from Poland with the specific intention of meeting the artist known as Madonna who he believes he is in an intimate relationship with."

Matlok was remanded in custody while psychiatric reports are prepared.

Lady Gaga says Madonna supports her new song 'Born This Way'

Lady Gaga has addressed allegations that she copied Madonna's classic hit 'Express Yourself', insisting the Queen of Pop has given her "complete support" over her new single 'Born This Way'.

The pop sensation sparked a huge buzz in the lead up to releasing her highly anticipated track, which she hailed as an anthem for a new generation, on Friday (11Feb11), reports the Daily Star.

During an interview with U.S. chat show host Jay Leno, Gaga failed to dismiss the criticisms, but insisted the Material Girl has no issue with her song - and so neither should anybody else.

She said, "There is really no one that is a more adoring and loving Madonna fan than me. I am the hugest fan personally and professionally.

"Well, the good news is that I got an email from her people and her, sending me their love and complete support on behalf of the single and if the queen says it shall be, then it shall be," she added.

Madonna's adoptive daughter's family has no legal right to see her: Lawyer

Madonna's lawyer has said that the family of singer’s adopted daughter has no legal right to see the five-year-old.

The claim comes after James family, led by Mercy Chifundo James'' biological uncle Peter Baneti and grandmother Lucy Chekechiwa, approached the Cicil Liberties Committee (CILIC) of leading human rights campaigner Emmie Chanika to sue Madonna for breach of trust.

Chanika conceded no visitation rights were included in the adoption agreement, which saw Mercy James leave Malawi for a new life with Madonna, 52, two years ago.

She admitted there is no written agreement but insisted the family has reasonable cause to push for the visitation.

“It was like a gentleman''s agreement,” she said.

‘They have a strong recollection that Ms. Madonna (sic) assured them they would be able to see Mercy on a regular basis,” she added.

Chanika said legal action would not be necessary if Madonna allows the family to see James.

Madonna''s lawyer Alan Chinula has also denied claims that she ever-promised regular visits.

“There was no such agreement,” the Daily Mail quoted Chinula as saying.

Madonna to invest in Malaysian man's nightclub

Pop queen Madonna is talks with a Malaysian tycoon to invest in his nightclubs.
"Madonna sees it as a natural move. She has ambitious plans," said one of her associates.

Madonna reportedly met Tony Fernandes, a Malaysian entrepreneur who owns Aura Mayfair, in London to discuss buying a stake in the company, reports telegraph.co.uk.

The company also runs events after Formula One Grand Prix races around the world and Fernandes, 46, is the team principal of the Lotus Racing team.

Madonna decade's most talked about celebrity

Pop star Madonna has topped a list of Britain's most talked about celebrities in the past decade.

The 52-year-old singer has been mentioned more than any other star in the British print press and scored 46,017 namechecks, reports contactmusic.com.

Brian Merron of Kantar Media, who compiled the figures, wasn't surprised by the outcome.

"This is why she's hailed as a legend," he said.

Madonna's namechecks in the last decade got a boost thanks to her marriage and divorce from filmmaker Guy Ritchie, subsequent relationships with models Jesus Luz and Brahim Zaibat who are half her age, the birth of her son Rocco, adoption of two children David and Mercy, and four major world tours.

The second and third spots have been occupied by "The X Factor" judge Simon Cowell and singer Robbie Williams respectively.

Here's a list of the top 10 most talked about celebrities of the decade:

1. Madonna (46,017)
2. Simon Cowell (29,888)
3. Robbie Williams (28,563)
4. Kate Moss (28,056)
5. Britney Spears (27,588)
6. Victoria Beckham (25,833)
7. David Beckham (24,953)
8. Michael Jackson (24,688)
9. Sir Paul McCartney (21,556)
10. Kylie Minogue (19,694)

Madonna to open line of gyms

Madonna has announced that she and her investors intend to open several luxurious gyms around the world.

The chain of gyms will be called Hard Candy Fitness, and the first branch will open in Mexico City.

Subsequent centres are expected to be unveiled in Russia, Brazil, Argentina and 'several locations throughout Europe and Asia'.

The gymnasiums were described in an official statement as "facilities where fitness, fashion and entertainment create a unique member experience".

Madonna herself is said to be taking part in the design process, as New Evolution Ventures chairman Mark Mastrov explained: "Hard Candy Fitness will be a reflection of Madonna's point of view and will reflect her input on every detail including music space, light and other design cues. Madonna's touch will be everywhere."

Madonna dating tour choreographer?

Madonna has reportedly struck up a relationship with a male dancer 19 years her junior.

The pop icon, who split from former lover Jesus Luz in February, sparked rumours of a romance with her 'Sticky & Sweet' tour choreographer Brahim Rachiki after the two were seen "sneaking kisses and laughing" at a New York nightclub on Thursday.

A source told Page Six: "They came in together and were holding hands in a private area. Madonna got up and was dancing for an hour straight before going back to her man. They immediately started making out in front of other guests."

The insider reports that the pair then moved to another club in Greenwich Village, where they continued to show off their affection for one another.

"After working the dance floor, they found more private seating where they hugged and kissed for the rest of the night."

Madonna and Daughter Kick Off New Fashion Line

Madonna and her young daughter, Lourdes Leon, have joined forces to create a new fashion line. It’s called Material Girl and the clothes are really cute.

Lourdes has been a bit of a fashionista since birth. I suppose having a super rich mom who has taken fashion risks her entire career would lead to this sort of thing.

Madonna and her daughter provided a viewing for their clothing line at the Macy’s store in New York City. Taylor Momsen is one of the spokesgirls for the line. She was present at the NY launch, dressed in a black mini-dress, straight hair and tons of eye makeup. Her dress was paired with thigh-high boots.

Lourde’s of course was in attendence and I suppose dressed to impress. Her style was a bit of a departure from Taylor. She wore shorts, a cool-looking black, leather jacket, flannel shirt and odd looking ripped tights (sorry I don’t like this look).

Kiddie lines have proven to be pretty popular, think Miley Cyrus and the Olsen Twins. Parents tend to spend money on their children even in a struggling economy. Kids are persistant when it comes to wearing the right clothes and parents often give in.

We’ll have to wait awhile to see how this new launch plays out. Either way, both Madonna and her daughter will be fine. Madonna has plenty of money for the both of them and probably several small countries as well!

Madonna's daughter to make debut with mum's film

'Queen of Pop' Madonna's teenaged daughter Lourdes will make her big screen debut in her mother's much hyped directorial venture W.E.

The 13-year-old, billed as Lola Leon in the film credits, was spotted on the set shooting in a school uniform, reported Daily Mail online.

It's not known yet exactly what part she's playing and how big her role will be.

Before she changed into her costume, Lourdes had joined her mother on the shoot with brothers Rocco and David to see what progress was being made yesterday.

Madonna was shooting in Mayfair yesterday outside hotel Claridges, as well as outside a makeshift Downing Street located in Aldwych.

W.E, Madonna's second film as a director, tells the story of Edward VIII's relationship with Wallis Simpson.

The USD 30 million film, currently being shot in Britain and France, intersperses Edward's affair with the American divorcee with a love story set in 1998.

Madonna's first film Filth and Wisdom was met by negative reviews when it was put on limited release two years ago.