LILONGWE, Malawi — Wealthy, famous, fabulous at 50 — but not a mother of four.
Pop star extraordinaire Madonna lost a bid Friday to adopt a second child from Malawi, rejected by a judge who said she would not bend the country’s strict residency rules even for a wealthy celebrity.
The decision came as a surprise since Malawi’s child-welfare minister came out Thursday in support of the singer’s application to adopt 3-year-old Chifundo “Mercy” James. And it was a rare setback for the material girl who has projected an image of being able to attain whatever she sets her sights on.
Madonna was not present in the courtroom for the ruling. The pop star’s attorney filed notice he would appeal.
Madonna has three other children, Lourdes, 12, Rocco, 8, and David, 3, adopted from Malawi in 2008.
