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Madonna will appear on Oprah Winfrey's US chat show this week to defend her controversial adoption of David Banda.
The singer will answer the latest claims by the 13-month-old boy's biological father, who now says he never intended to give up his son "for good".
Peasant farmer Yohane Banda said he only ever meant for the pop superstar to raise and educate his child before bringing him back to Malawi.
Madonna will talk about her decision to adopt David - and whether or not she intends to keep him in touch with his African heritage - on Oprah this Wednesday.
A spokesman for the show said: "You've read the headlines, heard the rumours and seen the photos. Now, for the first time, Madonna speaks out with her side of the story on the adoption controversy."
It is not known if the 48-year-old intends to fly David to the US with her.
He is believed to have been issued with a US visa shortly before he left Malawi for a new life in London with the star and her film director husband Guy Ritchie.
Controversy over the adoption is also raging in the US.
One poster on the Oprah website writes: "Why are these celebrities allowed to adopt children in record time while us 'regular' folks go through years of hell?"
Another said: "As much as I admire anyone for adopting any child to save them from abuse, starvation, death etc. I can't help [but] wonder why these celebrities who are adopting and bringing these children home in record time have to adopt outside of North America?
"How many orphaned children are there in the US or Canada? I understand that every child needs a home and someone to love them, but why not start off at home?"
Madonna was originally set to appear on Oprah to publicise the release of her latest children's book, The English Roses: Too Good To Be True, which is published tomorrow and is a follow-up to her 2003 best-seller.
Dates with other US talk shows are set for coming days but Oprah will be her first stop.
All proceeds from the new book will be donated to the singer's Raising Malawi charity for orphans.
The adoption saga took a new twist last night when David's father said he only agreed to let Madonna take the little boy on the assurance from government officials that Madonna would be a temporary carer.
Mr Banda, 32, said: "I cannot read and write so I relied on what the (government) officials told me, that the papers said Madonna would look after the child the way the orphanage planned to educate him and then he comes back to me.
"Had they told us that Madonna wanted to adopt my son and make him her own son, we would not have agreed to that."
The peasant farmer, who makes a living growing onions and tomatoes in his home village of Lipunga, signed adoption papers earlier this month.
That cleared the way for a judge to grant the celebrity couple a "temporary order" to take away the baby, who was flown to London last week.
Earlier this week Mr Banda criticised human rights groups that have gone to court to stop Madonna adopting David.
But his new comments appear to take a different line on the adoption.
Mr Banda gave David up to an orphanage at five weeks because he was unable to care for him when the baby's mother died shortly after his birth.
Later this week, a coalition of human rights groups will ask a judge in Malawi to review the case, claiming that the country's laws prevent international adoption, even by celebrities.
Reader views (17)
I have just returned from Malawi having stayed and worked in the Orphanage that Madonna adopted David from.
I experienced first hand the people of Malawi, the orphans and the no less than extraordinary people that run the orphange.
I understand that it is very difficult to create a fair picture of the country, its customs and the situation that David was in. But I must strongly object to the assumption above that David lived in a 'dismal' and 'dingy' orphange!
The children in the orphanage have everything that they need and more over they are inexplicably happy!
The orphans do not require adoption - it's not their custom and it solves very little - they do require financial support with in their own country. I believe that if Madonna really got to know the country and the needs of the orphans she would not remove David from his home, his family, his culture but provide the money for the amazing work the orphanages in Malawi are doing!
- Rach, England, 29/08/2007 15:10
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No, this child is not necessarily better off with Madonna. He will have every material need fulfilled, but what about his physical and emotional needs (we know he will have his fill of Kaballa so his spiritual needs are not much of an issue). He will be paraded around in public and will will be forever known as "Madonna's adoted African child". He would be better off with financial assistance and staying in his country with his family and his culture and his heritage.
- Sue, USA, 29/08/2007 14:10
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Madonna's intentions may be honorable, but pardon me for being a bit skeptical. What does everyone expect of the woman who walked naked down the street for her photo book, has simulated sex and masturbation on stage, bragged about her conversion to the kabbalah, etc? Don't be surprised for her next album to contain a song titled "For David", and guess who will make the money off that?
- Rich, Houston, Texas, USA, 29/08/2007 14:10
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Do you think the child would be better off in an orphanage with little food, healthcare and education? Madonna is giving this child a chance he would not have had. It is insanity that so many people are criticizing a person who is opening her home to a child of need, called attention to the plight of these children and who has funded the orphanage the baby was at. It is clear from remarks quoted by the boy's father that she does not intend to isolate him from his homeland or his people. And is it the end of the world that an exception was made to antiquated law to enable her to remove him from the country? Would it be better that he join the majority of his family who no longer exist? Who are you people thinking of? The boy or yourselves? It is vile. I say more power to you Madonna.
- Amy, New York, 29/08/2007 14:10
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This is clearly a child in need, not an orphan. If Madonna truly wanted to help this child, she would send financial support to his father so that he could afford to raise him outside the orphanage.
- Kathleen Moore, San Diego.CA USA, 29/08/2007 14:10
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Yes, this is an outrage...it is outrageous that Madonna is being thrown to the proverbial wolves over trying to do something good.
I am an adoptive mother to two Russian children. My children came from an orphanage in Siberia, much, I may speculate, like David came from an orphanage in Malawi. We did look into the American adoption system and decided to pursue adoption abroad, because of a nightmare dealing with the foster system and our desire not to run newspaper advertisements for an infant. I am a strong believer in adoption, particularly from countries where so many children are lingering in orphanages, malnourished, and neglected due to resource shortages.
Leave Madonna alone...unless you want to thank her for being an example to the world of all the good that adoption can do.
- Leslie, Tampa, FL,USA, 29/08/2007 14:10
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My husband and I recently adopted two children from Africa. I have a full understanding of an international adoption, as well as the great need for these children to be in a loving, and caring home. I am glad that baby David will have a brighter future.
- Adeline, Colorado Springs, USA, 29/08/2007 14:10
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The issue now is whether the father wants the child back. If so, then Madonna should return the child as soon as possible. If her ego is so big that she can't return the baby to his father than she doesn't deserve the child. Also, why is the baby in England why she is touring the U.S. for her book. The new baby comes first.
- Jodi Cantor, Brooklyn, NY, USA, 29/08/2007 14:10
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I have to agree with those that have had to wait for years to adopt. Madonna has not gone about things like "everyone else". That is a lie.
My cousin's wife had 2 boys, 8 and 11 that were in their native country,
and she had to wait 3 years to get them to the U.S., even though she was married to a US citizen and had a baby with him. And these were her natural children. No, something is definitely amiss when only celebrities are allowed this right. Imagine how many children could get the parents they so badly need if everyone was treated just like "celebrities". Being a celebrity certainly isn't a sign of being a good parent anyway. Not that celebrities are not, but money alone cannot rear healthy well adjusted children. Money cannot buy love and it certainly should not be able to buy children either!
- Sonja, USA, 29/08/2007 14:10
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What I can say is that the father of David is just confused. I think to him he thought he would be enjoying some sort of privileges because his son was being adopted ie. in form of money. I do not think that he was cheated into signing without the officials explaining to him what adoption meant. He is just confused with the publicity of all this.
- Alice Mponda, Banjul, The Gambia, 29/08/2007 14:10
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Madonna does not have to explain herself to anyone. It is her money and there were no objections by either the Government of Malawi or the Father when the adoption was arranged and executed and the outcrys of the masses are are meaningless. When will those who despise any act of benevolence performed, mind their own business and get a life of their own, rather than living vicariously through Madonna's? Instead of criticizing the good deeds done in the world no matter the motivation, why don't you be thankful that there are well deserving people who choose to the things that you either can't or won't. I for one applaud Madonna for this act of love.
- Pappyga, USA, 29/08/2007 14:10
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Is the child really better off being with Madonna?
- James Spears, St. Paul, MN, USA, 29/08/2007 14:10
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To me this is an outrage. I personally have gone through the adoption process with my own son. It took 2 yrs to finalize, and he was considered special needs. The only reason why it took so long was the "system". I bet if I were Madonna I would have only had to wait 2 weeks. I guess being a celebrity has its perks.
- Windy, Sacramento, California, USA, 29/08/2007 14:10
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In light of the father's comments, the only right thing to do is for Madonna to be on the first plane back to return the child, which is exactly why she probably won't do it.
- Darek, Pittsburgh, PA, USA, 29/08/2007 14:10
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It is outrageous that someone of Madonnas status would allow such a sensitive process as an adoption, to become as public as her career with all the baggage. The same process that we all follow should also be the process for a celebrity. Where does the need for attention subside?
- Larry Zagray, Miami, Florida USA, 29/08/2007 14:10
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If Madonna is gonna give the child the motherly love that the orphanage is not able too, plus the benefit of food and education then I can't see any reason why anyone should have a problem with it.
Perhaps the issue is that we should all do more to help these children.
- Emma, Exeter, 29/08/2007 14:10
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Who is getting lost in the discussion of this issue? The child, David. Read the story, he spent all but the first five weeks of his life in a dismal, dingy orphanage. It's adults fighting about what they want, not about what is in the best interest of the child.
- Anne, USA, 29/08/2007 14:10
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