Father of Madonna's Adopted Son Concern Battle Over Rocco
Father of Madonna's Adopted Son Concern Battle Over Rocco
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LONDON - The biological father of Madonna's adopted son David Ritchie has expressed concern over the singer's ongoing custody battle over her older son Rocco.
Malawian farmer Yohane Banda (42) admitted he is worried about David, 10, as the youngster is continuing to be separated from his sibling Rocco (15), who is currently living in the UK with his father Guy Ritchie.
"Madonna and Guy’s custody battle turning bitter and nasty is a huge concern. I’d like to know what’s going on behind closed doors and why Rocco wanted to leave his mum and live with his dad like that," Yohane said to The Sun.
Yohane believes his biological son would be happy living a simple life in Malawi than the current family situation with the siblings separated and Madonna's behaviour.
Rocco is currently living with his film-maker father Guy and stepmother Jacqui in London and Wiltshire after refusing to return home to live with his mother in New York.
The pop star and Guy have been in a custody battle over Rocco since December, with the teen wanting to remain in the UK with his father.
His continuance to remain in Britain means its been weeks since he's seen his half-sister Lourdes Leon and adopted siblings David and Mercy.
"One child living in New York and another in London sounds like an unhappy situation to me," Yohane explained.
He also raised concerns about Madonna's 'lifestyle' following her relationships with significantly younger men since her 2008 divorce from Guy.
In recent months, Madonna has been accused of 'erratic behaviour' due to the stress of her legal woes and missing Rocco.
Last week, she ended up revealing the breasts of a 17 year old fan on stage in Brisbane, Australia after pulling down her top. Last week, a British judge implored Madonna and Guy to find an 'amicable' resolution to their battle over Rocco.
Madonna had launched legal proceedings in both the US and UK to seek the return of Rocco to her home in New York, but a British judge has now ruled a US court shall decide.
Judge Alistair MacDonald praised Rocco as a mature young man who is 'very great credit' to his parents.
He said 'it would be a very great tragedy for Rocco if any more of the precious and fast-receding days of his childhood were to be taken up by this dispute'.
David was adopted by Madonna and Guy in Malawi when he was 13 months old in 2006. Young David was living at the Home of Hope orphanage in Mchinji after being placed there by Yohane, who was struggling to take care of him after his biological mother died while giving birth to him.
When Madonna adopted David, there was a huge backlash over the adoption procedure and the fact the singer had chosen a baby who had a living parent, instead of an orphan. A year after her divorce from Guy, Madonna returned to Malawi in 2009 to adopt a second child, Mercy James, whose biological mother died days after giving birth to her. In 2014, Madonna brought David back to his birth country to visit his father and take part in charity work.
However, around the same time Mercy's biological grandparents complained they hadn't been told anything of her upbringing since they agreed to her adoption.
"Nobody has told me a thing about Mercy being in the country or about her welfare since she left us. She has my blood flowing in her veins. It is preposterous that I am not made aware of anything regarding her development," Saxon Maunde, grandfather of Mercy told MailOnline.
Malawian farmer Yohane Banda (42) admitted he is worried about David, 10, as the youngster is continuing to be separated from his sibling Rocco (15), who is currently living in the UK with his father Guy Ritchie.
"Madonna and Guy’s custody battle turning bitter and nasty is a huge concern. I’d like to know what’s going on behind closed doors and why Rocco wanted to leave his mum and live with his dad like that," Yohane said to The Sun.
Yohane believes his biological son would be happy living a simple life in Malawi than the current family situation with the siblings separated and Madonna's behaviour.
Rocco is currently living with his film-maker father Guy and stepmother Jacqui in London and Wiltshire after refusing to return home to live with his mother in New York.
The pop star and Guy have been in a custody battle over Rocco since December, with the teen wanting to remain in the UK with his father.
His continuance to remain in Britain means its been weeks since he's seen his half-sister Lourdes Leon and adopted siblings David and Mercy.
"One child living in New York and another in London sounds like an unhappy situation to me," Yohane explained.
He also raised concerns about Madonna's 'lifestyle' following her relationships with significantly younger men since her 2008 divorce from Guy.
In recent months, Madonna has been accused of 'erratic behaviour' due to the stress of her legal woes and missing Rocco.
Last week, she ended up revealing the breasts of a 17 year old fan on stage in Brisbane, Australia after pulling down her top. Last week, a British judge implored Madonna and Guy to find an 'amicable' resolution to their battle over Rocco.
Madonna had launched legal proceedings in both the US and UK to seek the return of Rocco to her home in New York, but a British judge has now ruled a US court shall decide.
Judge Alistair MacDonald praised Rocco as a mature young man who is 'very great credit' to his parents.
He said 'it would be a very great tragedy for Rocco if any more of the precious and fast-receding days of his childhood were to be taken up by this dispute'.
David was adopted by Madonna and Guy in Malawi when he was 13 months old in 2006. Young David was living at the Home of Hope orphanage in Mchinji after being placed there by Yohane, who was struggling to take care of him after his biological mother died while giving birth to him.
When Madonna adopted David, there was a huge backlash over the adoption procedure and the fact the singer had chosen a baby who had a living parent, instead of an orphan. A year after her divorce from Guy, Madonna returned to Malawi in 2009 to adopt a second child, Mercy James, whose biological mother died days after giving birth to her. In 2014, Madonna brought David back to his birth country to visit his father and take part in charity work.
However, around the same time Mercy's biological grandparents complained they hadn't been told anything of her upbringing since they agreed to her adoption.
"Nobody has told me a thing about Mercy being in the country or about her welfare since she left us. She has my blood flowing in her veins. It is preposterous that I am not made aware of anything regarding her development," Saxon Maunde, grandfather of Mercy told MailOnline.
(rnz)
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