On ‘Oprah,’ Madonna blasts adoption reports

In Madonna’s first interview since her controversial and legally challenged adoption of a 13-month-old Malawi boy, she took aim at the media on “Oprah,” saying the coverage has done “a great disservice” to African orphans.

“I understand that gossip and telling negative stories sells newspapers,” she told Winfrey in an interview that aired Wednesday. “But I think for me, I’m disappointed because it discourages other people from doing the same thing.”

She said she was startled to hear Sunday that baby David Banda’s birth father, an illiterate farmer, told the Associated Press that he didn’t realize he was signing away custody to Madonna and her husband, filmmaker Guy Ritchie, “for good.”

“I do not believe that is true,” Madonna said. “I sat in that room, I looked into that man’s eyes.” Local human-rights organizations have gone to court to challenge the Malawi government’s decision to allow Madonna and Ritchie to adopt the baby.