Madonna raises $7.5M for Malawi, slams Trump in Miami show
AP PHOTO/KELLI KENNEDY
Madonna performs during Art Basel Miami Beach, Saturday, Dec. 3, 2016, in Miami Beach, Fla.
Miami Beach, Fla. » Madonna kissed Ariana Grande, repeatedly criticized President elect Donald Trump and said she was ashamed to be an American in a magnetic performance in Miami on Friday night where she raised more than $7.5 million for the African nation of Malawi.
The Material Girl dug deep into her personal treasures, auctioning off pieces from her own art collection, a costume from her tour modeled by Grande and black and white photos from her 1985 wedding to ex-husband Sean Penn shot by the late photographer Herb Ritts. The trio of wedding photos sold for $230,000.
Penn, who attended the fundraiser and bid on several pricey items when the auction stalled, handcuffed Madonna and crawled through her legs at one point as the two tried to coerce the audience to bid higher.
“For once, he’s not the one being arrested,” she joked.
The party lasted until early Saturday morning when Madonna took the stage for an hour-long performance before a star studded crowd that included Leonardo DiCaprio, Chris Rock, Dave Chappelle, James Corden, ex-boyfriend A-Rod and Courtney Love. The fundraiser was just one of the many parties during Art Basel Miami Beach, a contemporary art fair.
Madonna, who performed in a pink sequined clown top and fishnet stockings, seemed to hold nothing back, especially her opinions on the election, joking with the audience that she had promised to perform sexual favors for those who voted for Hillary.
She coyly said she’d been in Donald Trump’s bed, but later revealed it was for a magazine photo shoot and that Trump wasn’t even there — and she criticized his cheap sheets.
“They won’t be Egyptian cotton because we all know how he feels about Muslims don’t we,” she said as some audience members gasped.
She gyrated to a slowed-down version of Britney Spears’ “Toxic” and seductively sang, “You know that you’re toxic,” as images of Trump appeared on a large screen behind her.
At one point, she walked into the audience, climbing on tables and giving one man a lap dance. She abruptly stood up at another point, grabbed the chair on which she had performed and said she also wanted to auction it, noting $600 could send a girl in Malawi to secondary school and $2,000 would cover her university expenses. The chair sold for $10,000.
Other notable items included a Damien Hirst painting, a private performance by magician David Blaine, who was also at the event, and a weeklong stay at DiCaprio’s home in Palm Springs, which fetched $140,000. A print by artist Tracey Emin from Madonna’s personal art collection, sold for $550,000.
Madonna adopted her 11-year-old son David from an orphanage in Malawi more than a decade ago. At the time, she said, “I didn’t know where Malawi was” on the map. David had pneumonia and malaria. His mother died in childbirth and his siblings were also dead.
He was on hand to introduce his mother, telling audience members who paid at least $5,000 per plate, “I realize I’m one of the lucky ones.”
The pop star showed videos of Malawi, asking for help to build a pediatric surgery and intensive care unit at a hospital there. Fifty percent of the population there is under the age of 15, according to her foundation Raising Malawi.
The night was punctuated by her sardonic humor, corny clown jokes, controversial political statements and heartfelt moments about how much the hospital project means to her. She divulged a few personal details, lamenting that she was very single and hadn’t had sex in a long time and saying she’d always had a fascination with clowns which she said are “profoundly misunderstood.”
She spoke passionately about the plight of Native Americans and asked why their land was being destroyed.
“It just really makes me feel ashamed, ashamed to be an American, ashamed to be a human being really,” she said before launching into “American Life.”
27 responses to “Madonna raises $7.5M for Malawi, slams Trump in Miami show”
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If Madonna was serious about raising money for Malawi, she should simply donate several million of her own dollars instead of trying to get other people to donate their money. Surely, she is worth many millions of dollars and can afford to donate seven or eight million herself.
If she is so ashamed to be an American…she should seek citizenship in another country instead of complaining about the US….
A reason to be ashamed to be an American would be that people like Madonna are popular in America.
Agreed……just LEAVE!!!
Yes if Madonna is ashamed of being an American than she should move to the African nation of Malawi. Most celebraties think we listen to their views about politics but they’re pretty clueless when it comes to the needs of the middle class family.
Agreed. Why do these “celebrities” including athletes think they know better that the average American in their political opinions? How about drug tests for performers??? These people make millions of dollars by performing–not for their political views!! Which restroom does she use???
She’s an entertainer like PE trump. But PE doesn’t give to charities. Instead he uses charity money to buy his own image in a painting. Talk about being the Material Guy. Does he adopt? No,he just has multiple wives and mistress along with multiple children. Where’s the taxes? Will we ever see it? He promised after the audit. That’s his own words. How’s this double talker working for you?
Yeebeman said “Most celebrities think we listen to their views about politics”. Ahhhh, you voted for one,lol. Oh, and “they’re pretry clueless when it comes to the needs of the middle class family”? Lol, she was born in a lower middle class while trump was born into a very rich millionaire family. He doesn’t even know how many sausages there is in a Vienna Sausage can! (7) Oh and as a successful business person, over 4 decades. Oh and no bankruptcy.
Madonna just lost another 50% of her deplorable fan base. As far as bashing of president-elect, she should stick to her music and leave all political things alone.
The former pop star has become both creepy and scary. In the pictured outfit, she reminds me of Bette Davis in an old movie, “Whatever Happened To Baby Jane?” .
A repulsive Madonna and the AP, now that’s a dynamic duo President Trump ought to fear mightily.
Outstanding observation! Mahalo!
I guess her free BJ business didn’t have too many clients if any?
Poor Malawi, Madonna’s desire to help Malawai is in the right place, unfortunately she wants to promote herself so much, it overshadows whatever good she hopes to do to help the poor. Think about it, if you demonize 1/2 of all the potential donors, it makes it that much harder to get help. A big turn off and sad story.
I would not be ashamed if she moved to another country.
Faded and jaded Madonna like Cher has been trying to gain traction. Material Girl. She and anyone associated with her will pay a price.
I see cher & madonna starting to wrinkle up even more…SAD. (WOOOHOOOO)
Lol, faded but all her followers are hitting her up on this post. You understand its all about the hits in cyberworld. Negative or positive, it’s all hits!
America is ashamed of Madonna. She is immoral, indecent and rather ugly. I don’t think that President elect Trump really cares what she said. These clowns only
talk about leaving America. Unfortunately none of them will leave as they have it pretty good. No one listens to what these entertainers say as most of them are ignorant
and uneducated.
Agree! For folks like Madonna talking about leaving America, please leave.
Just like the last 8 years when Obama was President and many said they wanted to leave America. Did you all come back? Did you give up citizenship? Did your relatives in the Doomsday bunkers all come out?
Reall, everybody can stop slamming everybody else.
“It just really makes me feel ashamed, ashamed to be an American…” Good, Madonna. Now, you and Michelle obama have something in common: 2 rapidly aging, washed up, no-talent, publicity-seeking old hags who have the misguided notion that the country actually cares for their “contributions” to American society and that, in reality, no one has ever really cared for. Buh-bye. Just get out from the limelight. The grownups are back in charge.
I agree that if she is so concerned about raising money for Malawi, why doesn’t she donate her own monies instead of asking for donations like she is doing the people of Malawi a favor and if she is ashame of living in the U.S., JUST MOVE LIKE ALL THE OTHER HYPOCRITIC CELEBRITIES THAT THREATEN TO MOVE IF TRUMP WAS ELECTED PRESIDENT BUT THEY ARE WHAT THEY ARE…..ALL PHONIES STILL LIVING HERE MAKING THEIR MONIES……
She needs some Play Dough and a coloring book.
You know…… All these Anti-Trumpsters Protesting, “He’s Not My President”, Flag The Burning, “All Talk & No Action”Hollywood Celebrities,”Has Beens” like Mondona, Rock Stars, Uniformed College Kids still living at home and! tatataaaaaahh & for my all time favorite …. NFL Football Players “taking the knee”. Their fearless leader? Haaaaaaaaa! Colin Kaepernick and the gang……yeah like you’re really helping their cause by simply “Taking The Knee”. lol.
If they HATE our Country and our President Elect soooooooo MUCH. And you’re going to be Part of the problem,instead of being part of the Solution?……I suggest? That you, be a Man Or A Woman!
Just Leave ,if it’s that Bad! Nobody’s is holding you back! Find a country and a leader that you can agree with and just go there! Happy Trails, Best of Luck, Sayonara,Aloha!
We’re standing right behind you,just don’t let the door hit you on the way out!
I’m totally ashamed for reading this article. It a waste of time and energy ! Who is this character that no longer find America beautiful ! Removing herself from our country would be an awesome deed and help make America great again!