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Showbiz Tonight
Brand-New Madonna Adoption Outrage; Madonna-Angelina Jolie Adoption Smackdown; Pampers Versus the Octomom; Oprah School Scandal
Aired March 31, 2009 - 23:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
A.J. HAMMER, CO-HOST: Now, on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT - the brand-new Madonna adoption outrage. Tonight, Madonna, the target of a vicious and very personal attack for trying to adopt a little girl in Malawi.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This could be some of the strongest criticism she has ever received in her career.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Tonight the unbelievable headline-making, nasty, Madonna war of words. Should she be adopting in America instead? Or is the criticism of Madonna totally unfair? Plus, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT with the Madonna-Angelina Jolie adoption smackdown.
Tonight, the octomom versus Pampers? Huh? Is the diaper company unhappy with the octomom? And how bad does this really stink?
Another Oprah school scandal. Charges of sexual harassment, students suspended. So what is Oprah saying?
TV`s most provocative entertainment news show starts right now.
(MUSIC PLAYING)
Hello, I`m A.J. Hammer, broadcasting tonight and every night from New York City.
BROOKE ANDERSON, CO-HOST: Hi there, everyone. I`m Brooke Anderson coming to you from Hollywood. And tonight, the absolutely remarkable new attack on Madonna for trying to adopt another child in Africa. And this time, it`s personal.
HAMMER: It is personal, Brooke. The outrage reached a new headline-making and very personal level today, on the very same day Madonna confirmed to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT she is trying to adopt a 3-year-old girl in Malawi.
Now, Madonna`s rep revealed to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, what Madonna is hoping to do just hours after Madonna was targeted in a brand-new attack that can be best described as angry, outrageous and simply over the top. And SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can now reveal it is all making big news right now.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(voice-over): She is used to getting criticized for religious imagery. Her too-hot-for-TV videos. And the high-profile men in her life. But SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can tell you, Madonna is getting slammed with the harshest criticism she has faced in years.
BEN WIDDICOMBE, CELEBRITY EDITOR, STYLELIST.COM: Her key has always been to irritate people, to get under their skin.
HAMMER: She is being called a bully. She`s accused of child kidnapping. And now, one columnist is saying she has the morals of an alley cat and the depravity of a vulture. Why all the harsh words?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: How did it go?
HAMMER: Because she is trying to adopt a second child from the country of Malawi. My have times changed.
WIDDICOMBE: Madonna has founded her entire career on flouting the rules. And it seems that she has the same approach to adopting children.
HAMMER: Madonna`s spokesperson has now officially confirmed to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT that the pop megastar is trying to adopt 3-year-old Malawian girl, Mercy James. Last year, Madonna adopted 3-year-old David from that same country.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: How does it feel to be back in Malawi, Madonna?
MADONNA, POP STAR: Amazing.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: She is there now with David and her two biological children, 8- year-old Rocco and 12-year-old Lourdes.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Can you understand people`s reservations about it, seriously?
MADONNA: No. It`s none of their business.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can tell you, Madonna`s adoption plans have earned her tons of criticism and harsh attacks. None more vicious than the hatchet job "New York Post" columnist Andrea Peyser does of the Material Girl. Peyser writes, quote, "Madonna is hoping to soothe the pain of being 50, manless and well past her freshness-expiration date by taking home a third-world daughter to match the last baby she bought like a human trinket." Ouch.
WIDDICOMBE: This could be some of the strongest criticism she has ever received in her career.
HAMMER: Peyser goes on to write, quote, "In choosing poor Mercy, Madonna not only plans to, once again, circumvent Malawian law, which prohibits foreigners from adopting, but she ignores a significant needy orphan population right here in the United States. Mixed-race children cry at night waiting for parents. But for Madonna, Americans are not good enough. Saving the planet is her fixation. And Malawi`s curse."
And Peyser goes in for the kill writing, quote, "The children of the world are not safe, as long as her midlife crisis rages unchecked."
WIDDICOMBE: For some reason, it offends people that she is going overseas and not helping needy children close to the home.
HAMMER: Malawian law doesn`t exactly forbid adoptions by foreigners but it does require foreigners to stay in the country for an 18-month to 24-month assessment period. Critics say Madonna bended that rule when she was allowed to take David home to London almost immediately.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This process is merely amounting to child kidnapping.
HAMMER: At a press conference today in Malawi, civil rights activists teed off on Madonna for her plans to adopt young Mercy.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We feel that Madonna is behaving like a bully because she has the money, she has the status, using her profile to try to manipulate the procedures.
HAMMER: Madonna does have her defenders, both in Malawi -
AUSTIN MSOWOYA, LAW COMMISSION OF MALAWI: Perhaps it becomes the best interest of the child to allow the adoption.
HAMMER: And here in the U.S.-
CARLOS DIAZ, CORRESPONDENT, "EXTRA": I think this is absolutely insane that people are coming down on Madonna in this situation.
Carlos Diaz of "Extra" tells SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, Madonna`s critics are way off base.
DIAZ: The worst day with Madonna is better than the best day in Malawi. She is offering a way out for these kids. Why in the world would you stand in the way of this?
HAMMER: The Malawian judge is expected to decide Friday whether to let the adoption go forward. Madonna`s years of charity work in the country might help her cause.
WIDDICOMBE: She wants the people of Malawi behind her adoption.
HAMMER: But as with everything else she does, Madonna and criticism go hand in hand.
WIDDICOMBE: Whenever she leaves the house someone is going to have a negative opinion about whatever she does.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: OK. Let me run some of that by you again. A baby snatcher, a depraved vulture, a bully - just a few of the very nasty words that are being tossed around about Madonna`s pending adoption.
With me now in New York is Carolina Bermudez, a senior editor for "In Touch Weekly." In Hollywood, Carlos Diaz, correspondent for "Extra."
We know, guys, that Madonna has built her career on pushing people`s buttons. And as we saw, the front page of the "New York Post" billed Andrea Pesyer`s column with the nasty headline you`re seeing right here, "Madonna Trading in Human Trinkets."
And Peyser writes among other things, quote, "Madonna is hoping to soothe the pain of being 50, manless and well past her freshness-expiration date by taking home a third world daughter to match the last baby that she bought like a human trinket."
Carlos, I`ve got to tell you, this is so unbelievably personal and venomous. I am having a hard time understanding it. Why do you think Madonna`s adoption has gotten so personal?
DIAZ: I would say maybe jealousy. That`s the only thing I can think - that people are jealous of her wealth, or stature. I don`t know. But I have no idea why people are being - are so angry towards Madonna in this situation. It is in the best interest of the child.
Madonna is - this is not a whim for Madonna. She has had her eye on little Mercy for two years now. And the only reason she didn`t adopt her two years ago is because she adopted David Banda. It is in the best interest of the child. Keep that in mind.
HAMMER: I am right there with you. Carolina, why are people coming after Madonna with such personal venom?
CAROLINA BERMUDEZ, SENIOR EDITOR, "IN TOUCH WEEKLY": A.J., I called Madonna plenty of things in my day. But this is just out of control. Who in the hell does this Andrea Peyser think she is? The last time that I checked, a 50-year-old woman could definitely take care of a child - a 3- year-old child. What does that have to do with her freshness expiration date?
I think it is not only venomous, it`s really a personal attack on maybe her opinion of what Madonna is as a personality. But not as a mother. That`s not fair.
HAMMER: Well, separate from the personal attacks, there are these major issues that really seem to be getting under the skin of a lot of Madonna`s critics. These are the things that people are talking about. Number one on the hit list is the fact that Madonna did go outside the U.S. to adopt.
Now, Carlos, there are a lot of people wondering why couldn`t Madonna, for example, gone to her hometown of Detroit, maybe adopted a child in need there? Is there any merit to that kind of questioning?
DIAZ: I agree. There you go. Now, you have hand argument, because that`s the one argument you could make - why is she not adopting in America? I`ve said time and time again, that if you adopt in America, someone of her star status would run into a lot of problems with people coming out of the woodwork claiming that they`re the real parents and this and that.
But also think about this. Everyone in America knows who Madonna is. A child in an orphanage in Malawi may not have any idea who Madonna is, especially a 3 or 4-year-old child like Mercy.
HAMMER: Sure.
DIAZ: So maybe she can look at, - maybe this girl looks at Madonna like a mom and not a celebrity. And maybe that makes Madonna feel better.
HAMMER: Yes. So many people disagree with Madonna going halfway around the world to adopt a child. But we got a call from Jenny in Canada. She called into "Showbiz on Call" and she made another really valid point that others have been wondering about as well. Let`s listen to that.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
JENNY, CALLER FROM CANADA: I am wondering since this child has a family, why - instead of taking the child away from that family, why doesn`t she give money to help this family into a better financial position, send all of the children of the family to school and do some good that way instead of snatching up this child - someone else`s child - and bringing her home so that she can be an accessory.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
HAMMER: Thank you for your call, Jenny. People are concerned Madonna is taking a child away from her family. But let`s remember here, this child lived in an orphanage and was not snapped up away from her family. Carolina, in my mind, that argument doesn`t make any sense.
BERMUDEZ: It doesn`t make any sense, A.J., because she is not snatching a child up. She can`t be supported by her family that`s why she is living in an orphanage. And I love how people are saying, "Why doesn`t she do this? Why doesn`t she do that?" It is a charitable act.
HAMMER: Yes.
BERMUDEZ: She is adopting a child. You can`t tell somebody, "Hey, you know what? If you are going to give to the American Cancer Society, you shouldn`t give to them. You should give to this, you know, organization."
HAMMER: "Do it the way I want you to do it."
BERMUDEZ: Exactly. It`s ridiculous.
HAMMER: Got to end it there, Carolina. Out of time. Carolina Bermudez, Carlos Diaz - but I do want you to stay put because - and I`m thinking maybe we`ll pipe a little Madonna music into your headphones for you if you like.
Coming up, it`s the Madonna-Angelina Jolie adoption smackdown. Madonna getting slammed. But what about Angelina Jolie and all of her adoptions? Who is getting it worse? That`s at 30 past the hour.
Now over to you, for our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of the day. Here`s what we want to know - "Madonna`s New Adoption: Is the criticism of her unfair?" CNN.com/ShowbizTonight is where you vote or E-mail showbiztonight@cnn.com.
So Brooke, tonight, there is another big star scandal in Africa happening right now with Oprah`s school for girls.
ANDERSON: Yes, A.J. And it`s not the first time Oprah has had a major problem with this school. Tonight, another sex scandal there. Allegations of sexual harassment, students suspended. What is going on? And what is Oprah saying about all of this coming up?
HAMMER: Also, brand-new octomom drama. It`s the octomom versus Pampers? Yes, as in the diapers. So is Pampers really not happy with the octomom? And how badly does this really stink?
Also, this -
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Going for a ride, Mr. Madoff.
JEANNE MOOS, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: So what do you have against Bernie Madoff?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, Bernie Madoff ruined my life.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Yes. Bernie ruined so many lives. I bet all those people would like to take a whack at him now. Well, tonight, you can whack Bernie and other sleazeballs with your favorite five iron. You have got to see this. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN.
And now, the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news right now.
TEXT: "USA Today": Michael J. Fox to play paraplegic on FX`s "Rescue Me." Florida Station WPGX won`t air "Osbournes: Reloaded" due to profanity.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
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MILEY CYRUS, ACTRESS AND SINGER: As long as keep long in an episode, I`m down. You know, I can`t be Hannah until I am 30, but I want to keep doing it as long as possible.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: "Hannah Montana" star Miley Cyrus telling us she wants to keep playing the character on TV. But tonight, Miley also reveals she may not want to do any more Hannah movies even though her last one was a huge hit. It made more than $60 million.
Miley signed up for a third season of the TV show and says she is interested in a fourth.
Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood. Tonight, the showbiz "Obama Watch" and the world`s eye on Michelle. Michelle Obama is expected to be greeted like a movie star as she joins President Obama this week in his first trip to Europe as commander-in- chief.
It seems Michelle Obama is everywhere. From the cover of "Vogue" to sharing the cover of "O" magazine with Oprah. And the stage - well, it is about to get bigger, a lot bigger. Here is CNN`s Erica Hill for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
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ERICA HILL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: In the U.K., where celebrities and royals keep the presses running, Mrs. Obama is already seeing some ink of her own. Making headlines from her "Vogue" and Oprah covers, to the organic garden she helped start at the White House, and yes, those much-documented and coveted arms. But this international love affair isn`t just about what you see on the outside.
People like Michelle Obama because she doesn`t just talk the talk, she walks the walk as well. She really gets involved in issues that count. And certainly, in Europe and around the world, that is what has impressed people.
HILL: Issues like education, which she has pushed since day one. Most recently, with a visit to a high school in one of Washington, D.C.`s poorest neighborhoods.
MICHELLE OBAMA, UNITED STATES FIRST LADY: I lived in a community where being smart wasn`t necessarily the cool thing to be.
HILL: In London, Mrs. Obama will visit a school for underprivileged girls. She`ll also venture out on her own to the Jewish quarter in Prague, visits that could have a lasting impression not just in Europe, but also at home.
CARL SFERRAZZA ANTHONY, FIRST LADY HISTORIAN: We so often look at what a first lady does in our own country. But the truth of the matter is, what they do overseas really makes them literally figures of world power and influence.
HILL: Of course, it is important to remember, this visit isn`t about the first lady`s agenda. It`s about the president`s.
ANTHONY: If anything the two of them will only end up bolstering each other. Sort of like, you know, when you have Hollywood actors marrying each other. You know, it will really be a popular team, but I don`t think that her popularity, as great as it is, is going to eclipse his.
HILL: The comparison to the Kennedys can`t be avoided. Jacqueline Kennedy`s visit as first lady in 1961 charmed the continent and Americans alike giving her a boost in popularity back home.
While Mrs. Obama may not need much of a boost state side, any help for the U.S. overseas will be welcomed. You can bet the world is watching.
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ANDERSON: And that was CNN`s Erica Hill for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
HAMMER: So Brooke, I am sure you know the "Showbiz on Call" phone lines have been ringing nonstop with so many people calling in about Madonna trying to adopt another African baby. Should she be adopting in the U.S. instead?
ANDERSON: A.J., our "Showbiz on Call" operators are wondering if Madonna will end up adopting eight babies, giving the octomom a little competition. We got a call into "Showbiz on Call" from Shannon in Florida.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
SHANNON, CALLER FROM FLORIDA: Madonna is great. You want to adopt babies to help them out. But why do you have to go all the way to Africa to adopt the babies. There are babies in the United States of America that need love and attention just as well as in Africa.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
HAMMER: Thanks a lot, Shannon. We also heard from Vanessa calling into "Showbiz on Call" from Massachusetts.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
QUESTION: Give the lady a break. There are so many women out there who are having babies. They can`t afford to have them. And this woman here - she can offer these children everything in the world. The celebrities a great thing they`re doing, giving the children opportunities would they never ever would have dreamed of. And (INAUDIBLE) after the babies will (INAUDIBLE) an unbelievable future.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Thank you, Vanessa. Call us at "Showbiz on Call." Let us know what you think about this or anything else that is on your mind.
HAMMER: The "Showbiz on Call" phone open all the time - 1-888-SBT-BUZZ; 1- 888-728-2899. That`s where you can leave us a voicemail. We`re playing your calls here on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, posting them, too, right there on our homepage, CNN.com/ShowbizTonight.
ANDERSON: A.J., this Madonna adoption really has people fired up.
HAMMER: Yes, really fired up, Brooke. And I`m a bit surprised as to how much people are fired up. Coming up, the Madonna-Angelina Jolie adoption smackdown. Madonna getting slammed for her latest adoption. But let`s not forget Angelina Jolie adopted three kids. Did she get as much criticism? Who is getting it worse, Madonna or Angelina Jolie? That`s coming up.
ANDERSON: Also tonight, a brand-new shocking Oprah school sex scandal. Allegations of sexual harassment. Students suspended. What is going on? And what`s Oprah saying about this?
HAMMER: And have Barbara Walters and Donald Trump finally buried the hatchet over the Rosie O`Donnell mess? You know, they were going at each other for a long time. How Howard Stern - that`s right, Howard Stern helped them out. You have got to hear Barbara`s brand-new interview with Donald. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN.
Now, the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news right now.
TEXT: "General Hospital" celebrates 46th anniversary, oldest ABC show. ABC and ESPN to put TV show clips on YouTube.
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HAMMER: Well, tonight, I can tell you that Jennifer Hudson`s wedding is going to the dogs. Yes. She tells "Access Hollywood" that her upcoming marriage to her fiance David Otunga will include her three dogs, Oscar, Grammy, and Dream Girl. Now, Jennifer hasn`t revealed the date of the wedding yet, but does say she will be designing her own wedding dress. Multitalented Jennifer Hudson.
Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer. And tonight, breaking bro-mance news. Yes, for the very first time in five years since they were both in "Jersey Girl," Ben Affleck and Matt Damon and are going to star together in a new movie. The Oscar-winning pals from "Good Will Hunting," of course, have been real-life friend since childhood. But despite being close and going on joint family vacations, distance has made it hard for them to spend time together.
Well, Ben tells People.com that making a movie together will just give them a great excuse to hang out. Matt and Ben will start working on new film as soon as next year.
ANDERSON: In a brand-new interview, Halle Berry is tackling rumors that she wants another baby. Halle`s daughter Nahla baby turned one this month. But is she already ready for baby number two?
Today, on "Ellen," Halle showed off some of her best dance moves. And I`ve got to say motherhood hasn`t affected her rhythm at all. That woman can move. After a couple of hip bumps, the two sat down. And Ellen DeGeneres asked Halle the big question - will she have another baby?
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ELLEN DEGENERES, HOST, "THE ELLEN DEGENERES SHOW": I have a gift. She just turned one, right?
HALLE BERRY, ACTRESS: Yes, she did. Oh.
DEGENERES: We have a little onesie for her to wear.
BERRY: Aww.
DEGENERES: When she`s two, I`ll give her a twosie. Do you want more kids? Are you going to have more now that you know what it`s like?
BERRY: Yes. I would - you know, my mind says yes. But the rest isn`t up to me. So we`ll see.
DEGENERES: Yes. Right. Because there are rumors out there. You know what they`re doing. They`re saying you are going to have more. But they love to say that people are having more.
BERRY: I hope I don`t have like 14 more.
DEGENERES: No, you don`t want that.
BERRY: That`s all I hope.
DEGENERES: No. Well, you can control that, as it turns out.
BERRY: Yes, I can. Everybody can actually.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Sounds like Halle has been keeping up with the octomom drama, too. Oh, well, no octo-sized family for Halle. But maybe we`ll see a sibling for baby Nahla soon.
HAMMER: All right. Well, so for now, Halle is only changing diapers on one kid. But the octomom, of course, that is major diaper duty right there, correct?
Now, the SHOWBIZ lineup. Here`s what`s coming up at the bottom of the hour on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
Is Pampers really upset with the octuplet mom? That`s right. I said Pampers. Something doesn`t smell right here.
The brand-new Madonna-Angelina Jolie adoption battle. Who is getting slammed more for adopting kids?
And the shocking new Oprah school sex scandal. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN.
ANDERSON: And now, the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news right now.
TEXT: "Star Trek" sequel already being planned for 2011. First film out May 8th. Drew Barrymore and ex Justin Long will co-star in a romantic comedy.
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HAMMER: Now, on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT - the Madonna-Angelina Jolie adoption smackdown. Madonna getting slammed for wanting to adopt another child in Africa. But hey, what about Angelina Jolie and all of her adoptions?
The brand-new, Oprah school scandal. Charges of sexual harassment. Students suspended.
And, target octomom. Is Pampers really taking aim at her? What`s the big stink about anyway.
Plus more stories breaking from the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker." TV`s most provocative entertainment news show continues right now.
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Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. It is 30 minutes past the hour. I`m A.J. Hammer, broadcasting to night and every night from New York City.
ANDERSON: I`m Brooke Anderson, coming to you tonight from Hollywood. And tonight, the Madonna-Angelina Jolie smackdown.
HAMMER: That`s right, Brooke. It is just one of two big stories that are new right now.
Madonna, officially confirmed today to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT she is, indeed, trying to adopt another child from the African nation of Malawi. And now, the comparisons between her and Angelina Jolie have begun.
But Madonna is getting slammed by officials from a human rights organization in Malawi who are calling her plan to adopt "a kidnapping."
And our "Showbiz on Call" phone lines just burning up. A lot of people calling in and even threatening to boycott Madonna`s music.
Also new right now, Oprah`s school for girls hit with another sex scandal. Some students from Winfrey`s Academy for Girls in South Africa, gets suspended for allegedly sexually harassing their schoolmates. Tonight, Oprah`s very first response.
Joining me in New York is Carolina Bermudez who is a senior editor for "In Touch Weekly." And from Hollywood, Carlos Diaz who is a correspondent for "Extra."
So right now, guys, Madonna in Malawi awaiting her Friday court date - that`s when the judge is going to decide whether or not he`s going to grant her temporary custody of a 3-year-old girl named Mercy James.
But today, there were these officials from a human rights group in Malawi who accuse Madonna of kidnapping. Strong words. Watch what they said in a press conference earlier today in Malawi.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We are looking at the current scenario and our worry, and this is a strong worry, is that this process is merely amounting to child kidnapping. Or we have a scenario which calls all of us to redefine the boundaries between child adoption and child kidnapping.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: A child kidnapping. This thing gets wilder every day. Carlos, over to you first. You know, Angelina Jolie has adopted three kids from three different countries. Certainly, there was some heat up against her when she did those adoptions. But, we didn`t see any kind of a backlash when Angelina Jolie did it like this. Why is that?
DIAZ: You know what? That is a great question, A.J. Maybe you answered it in your question. Maybe it`s because Angelina adopted three kids from three different countries. And Madonna is looking to adopt two kids, not only from the same country, but the same orphanage.
I can only say maybe it`s because the laws in Malawi are kind of gray in the fact that you have to be a resident between 18 and 24 months there, and maybe that`s the reason why people are pointing a finger at Madonna more than Angelina Jolie.
But they`re both somewhat controversial, you know, in their past. So I don`t know why Angelina has been, you know, given an easier time relatively speaking than Madonna in this case.
HAMMER: Carolina, any insight here as to why Angelina didn`t get nearly the heat that Madonna is getting? Because the attacks have been vicious against Madonna.
BERMUDEZ: Yes, I think this is very personal. I think people have their own opinion about Madonna and they`re not afraid to vocalize it. But it`s ridiculous that they`re comparing this to a child kidnapping.
Let us point out though that Angelina did adopt children that didn`t have any other siblings that we know of or any living parents or family members. And I think that`s the reason why people are so upset about this.
The little girl that Madonna has chosen does have a grandmother that wants to be part of her life. So maybe that`s why they`re comparing it to a kidnapping. But it`s ridiculous. It`s being blown out of proportion.
HAMMER: Well, let me pose this, because there certainly are some similarities when you break it down. You know, when Angelina was adopting, she also got heat because she went overseas while you have people saying, "Hey, you know what, plenty of kids right here in the United States of America, waiting to be adopted, who need good homes."
Carlos, how about this? Do you think Madonna is getting more of that kind of heat because well, quite frankly, she is Madonna?
DIAZ: Exactly. And you know what? In a perfect world, yes, Madonna would adopt kids who are in Detroit, near her home, you know, city, and that`s the thing - in a perfect world. But we don`t live in a perfect world. And in this world, relatives will come out of the woodwork here in America and cause just unnecessary stress on big stars who want to adopt in America. You know what? It`s a sad fact, but it is a fact. And it`s one of the reasons why they go overseas to do it overseas.
HAMMER: Carolina, what do you think. Controversy has certainly swirled around Angelina Jolie and Madonna throughout their careers, throughout their personal lives. Do you think the Madonna controversy - I don`t know - quotient is that much higher and that`s why she is getting all the heat here?
BERMUDEZ: I do. I think that her lifestyle is, you know, comparable to Angelina Jolie`s at the time she was adopting their children. They`re both single mothers. Angelina was single when she adopted some of her children.
So I think it`s very unfair. And also why shouldn`t she be allowed to choose what child she wants to adopt? Maybe she wants little David to have a sibling from the same region, from the same country where he can grow up and have someone that he can bond with, not that he won`t bond with his other brothers and sisters. But that`s a choice that should be left up to Madonna.
And I don`t think it is very fair that people are throwing her under the bus for not looking here in the United States for a child.
HAMMER: Yes.
BERMUDEZ: She has the right to do whatever she wants to do.
HAMMER: I`m right there with you. I couldn`t agree more. Look, I mean, this child is going to have a life of education, a length of life and quality of life that they probably otherwise would not have had.
I`ve got to tell you a lot of heat on the "Showbiz on Call" phone lines about the very point that Madonna perhaps should be adopting here in the States instead. Listen to what Sherri in California has to say about that very point.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
SHERRI, CALLER FROM CALIFORNIA: If she really wants to help the world, she should help her own right here in America. As a foster child myself, thank God for good people that were willing to help me in my own country. Let`s help our own for a change. That`s all I have to say. I won`t buy her records anymore until she starts helping her own.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: All right. Sherri, I appreciate your call. Carlos, she`s calling for a boycott. Going too far, you think?
DIAZ: Yes. Sherri - I respect your opinion, Sherri. But come on. I mean, please. Like I said, if she adopts in America, she`s going to get a ton of flak, you know, from people coming out of the woodwork, you know.
And I appreciate that you come from a foster home. But Madonna does give to charities here in America. She is adopting from another country because Malawi is one of the poorest countries on the planet.
HAMMER: Yes it is.
DIAZ: A bad day in Malawi is a lot worse than a bad day in America.
HAMMER: Well said, Carlos. Let`s move on now to another story making big news right now. Oprah`s leadership academy - school for girls in South Africa has been hit with another sex scandal.
Now, seven students have been suspended for allegedly sexually harassing some other students. Oprah Winfrey today released a statement to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. Oprah asked us to share with our viewers a good part of it.
So in fairness to Oprah, here it is, quote, "Indiscretions resulting in disciplinary action are common in schools all over the world. Unfortunately, because of my name, these common infractions place the academy in the media spotlight. As each of the girls enrolled, she agreed to adhere to the school`s honor code and code of conduct policy which values personal integrity and ensures an environment of shared trust and community. I am disappointed that several of our students chose to disregard the school`s rules."
All right, Carolina, does any of what happened here, whether it should or not reflect poorly on Oprah Winfrey?
BERMUDEZ: It is unfortunate because Oprah is lending her name to a really good thing. This is an academy that - you know, these girls would never have gotten this education had she not gone down there and opened up this school.
It is unfortunate, yes. You know what? They do adhere to a code of conduct. But you can`t let a couple of bad apples spoil the bunch. Oprah is still doing a wonderful thing. So I don`t think that it`s really going to - I don`t think that the media is going to focus on this because there are a lot of wonderful things that are coming out of the academy.
HAMMER: I agree with you on that. Quickly, Carlos, will it spoil the bunch? Remember, there was the other school scandal, the sex scandal back in 2007. Do you feel that the school`s name is now tarnished? Ten seconds for you.
DIAZ: No, not at all. It does not tarnish anything Oprah has done. And I hope Oprah doesn`t look at this as a deterrent for her future endeavors.
HAMMER: You know what? I have a good feeling it won`t. She is a much stronger person than that. Carlos Diaz, Carolina Bermudez, I thank you as always.
ANDERSON: Hey, A.J., it seems like we have heard just about everybody take aim at the octomom.
HAMMER: Yes. And Brooke, it is not over. Is the diaper company Pampers actually targeting the octomom? What did she do this time? We`re going to find out if Pampers is in fact pooh-poohing the octomom. Coming up.
ANDERSON: And remember the feud between Barbara Walters and Donald Trump over that whole Rosie O`Donnell hair flipping scandal? Donald said Barbara was off his list for good after that. But what is Barbara saying now that might change his mind? We`ve got their one-on-one.
And this -
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Going for a ride, Mr. Madoff.
MOOS: So what do you have against Bernie Madoff?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, Bernie Madoff ruined my life.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Oh, wouldn`t it feel good to get a good whack on Bernie Madoff? Well, now you can whack the sleazeball or anyone else who has taken you for a ride. We`ll introduce you to this ingenious idea. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN.
Now, the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news right now.
TEXT: Fire destroys lodge at ski resort co-owned by Bruce Willis. MTV orders four more seasons of "The Real World."
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Hey, welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood.
Tonight, octomom under attack. More dirty laundry exposed with the octomom, or should we say dirty diapers. And it`s making big news right now.
Pampers today told SHOWBIZ TONIGHT the octomom`s claims that they rescinded their diaper offers to her because of bad press are just untrue. So, what`s the real story?
Also tonight, 15 employees at the hospital where the octomom gave birth have been fired for allegedly snooping around in the octomom`s medical files.
Joining me in Hollywood, Leslie Marshall who is the host of "The Leslie Marshal Show." And tonight, in New York, Jane Velez-Mitchell, host of "ISSUES WITH JANE VELEZ-MITCHELL." You can see that weekday nights at 7:00 p.m. Eastern right here on HLN.
OK. Leslie, Jane, let`s get right to this Pampers` fiasco. Something stinks here, big time.
It all began when the octomom reportedly said the diaper and formula companies were pulling back their offers to help her because she had become so controversial. But now, Pampers says they did no such thing. I also want to mention that Huggies also told us that they never offered any diapers to Nadya Suleman. Jane Velez-Mitchell, is this much poop about nothing?
JANE VELEZ-MITCHELL, HOST, "ISSUES WITH JANE VELEZ-MITCHELL": Brooke, this is a real stink bomb. I think this is what you would call a disposable story. Reportedly, Nadya Suleman, octomom, was griping about these offers being rescinded. But it`s just reports in her defense.
I haven`t seen her on tape saying this. It`s people saying she said it. And Pampers says, hey that`s not how we roll. We don`t pull up with a truck and dump a bunch of diapers at somebody`s house. We work with organizations like UNICEF and Feeding America and Baby Buggy.
So this story really just doesn`t make sense. But it is part of the vortex of speculation, rumor and gossip that surround Nadya Suleman.
ANDERSON: Yes, you are right. And Pampers has done many wonderful things over the years and they do work with charities and organizations. In a statement today to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, the company nipped this in the butt so to speak. Quote - listen to this, "Any implication that an offer to an individual occurred or rescinded is simply not the case."
Leslie Marshall, does it all just show how absurd this all has become, that Pampers would even have to bother to respond?
LESLIE MARSHALL, HOST, "THE LESLIE MARSHALL SHOW": It is absurd. I think she is trying to get some free diapers. And to add to all of your diaper talk, ladies, let`s throw Nadya Suleman in the diaper genie, shall we? I mean, basically, Pampers is a great product. Seriously, I use them on my kids and a lot of people do.
This is the type of organization that unfortunately was forced to respond. But I do think she is trying to get a free thing out of this. I mean, she has just been milking this like crazy.
It`s terrible that Pampers has to respond. But I think they did the right thing, because unfortunately, a lot of people might believe that, you know, Pampers was the bad guy here. And clearly, that is not the type of organization they are. And they do deal with reputable charities.
ANDERSON: Right.
MARSHALL: Nothing has been offered or rescinded from this woman. And it is terrible that Pampers has to respond. But I think they did the right thing in doing so.
ANDERSON: I agree with you. They approached it in the right way.
And also new right now regarding the octomom, we learned today that 15 employees got fired by Kaiser Permanente Hospital, eight others disciplined for allegedly snooping around the octomom`s medical record.
They were supposedly looking for information on the octomom`s sperm donor. Now, the best that Kaiser can explain it, the employees were curious. Jane, is this just an outrageous invasion of privacy?
VELEZ-MITCHELL: It really is. And Brooke, it proves that octomom, Nadya Suleman, is a celebrity because these hospital workers love to snoop into the files of celebrities. They did it to Britney Spears, George Clooney, Farrah Fawcett - it`s a very long list. And what is really shocking about this is that the hospital anticipated this problem and actually gave hospital workers a refresher course about patient privacy, essentially warning them, "Do not go into anybody`s medical records unless you have a very specific, legitimate, medical reason."
Nevertheless this happened. And that just shows you what a controversial and fascinating story this is that people risk their jobs and have lost their jobs just to get some information on this woman.
ANDERSON: And it is just terrible that patient confidentiality laws are breached. Worrisome for us all. Leslie, very quickly to you. What do you think all the chaos surrounding the octomom - do you think her 15 minutes of fame are almost up?
MARSHALL: I`m just going to say there is $10,000 per infraction for those. I`m married to a doctor. Those are very serious. They`re called HIPAA Privacy Laws.
ANDERSON: Yes.
MARSHALL: Fifteen minutes - it`s been 15 weeks. And you know what I think? OK. This is scary.
ANDERSON: Quickly, please.
MARSHALL: I think she`s going to have 15 more kids to milk it for 15 more years.
(CROSS TALK)
ANDERSON: No way! We will end it there.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: No, please. Stop. Stop, stop the madness.
ANDERSON: Leslie Marshall, Jane Velez-Mitchell, thanks, ladies. And for a complete coverage of all the octomom drama, you can head to our Web site, CNN.com/ShowbizTonight.
HAMMER: Tonight, get ready for sleazeball revenge. Did you see this? There is a brand-new way for everybody to get revenge on their favorite sleazeball, legally. One guy who says disgraced moneyman Bernie Madoff took his family for millions is now cashing in on golf balls with Madoff`s face on them. So if you want to get a good shot at Madoff or any other sleazeball for that matter, here is your chance.
And here is CNN`s Jeanne Moos for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): This is the story of a guy so teed off at Bernie Madoff -
WALKER MANZKE, SLEAZEBALL CREATOR: The biggest sleazeball in the world -
MOOS: That he created sleazeballs.
MANZKE: Going for a ride, Mr. Madoff.
MOOS (on camera): So what do you have against Bernie Madoff?
MANZKE: Oh, Bernie Madoff ruined my life.
MOOS (voice over): Walker Manzke says he lost his job and his mom lost almost $5 million running a feeder fund that funneled investors to Madoff.
MANZKE: All of a sudden, poof! It`s gone. I would like to whack his face all day.
MOOS: Or at least part of a morning with a golf club at New York Chelsea piers.
MANZKE: Jail is not enough.
MOOS: For some folks, maybe a funny T-shirt would have been enough, or an "I Hate Bernie Madoff" bumper sticker.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Bernie! Bernie!
MOOS: But the sleazeball idea came to Walker and he ran with it selling them on his Web site in packages of three for $17.95. The day Madoff pleaded guilty, Walker stood outside court selling them.
MANZKE: Here is his little face. I am going to smash that smirk right off of there. Die!
Moos: Did you say die? But why stop at one sleazeball? Walker has plans to expand the brand.
MANZKE: I`ll have a sleazeball coming out every month.
MOOS: Sleazeball of the month. Who is the next sleazeball? That would be that other alleged Ponzi scammer, R. Allen Stanford. His ball is in the works.
Folks can recommend the future sleazeball at Walker`s Web site. The (INAUDIBLE) can range from House Speaker Pelosi, the former Governor Blagojevich to A-Rod or even a steroid variety featuring Canseco, Bond, Rodriguez. Another popular candidate -
MANZKE: Bernie Madoff`s wife has her own sleazeball as well. Personally, I agree. If people want to put their ex-wife`s on there. If you wanted a custom sleazeball, I can do that for you.
MOOS: But you`d have to order at least 300.
(on camera): If you ever want to kick sand in Bernie Madoff`s face.
MANZKE: Get them. Get that Madoff ball.
MOOS (voice over): But watch out you don`t end up in the sand trap.
MANZKE: If you`re not careful, you can end up on a sleazeball, too.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: Not Jeanne. That was CNN`s Jeanne Moos for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
ANDERSON: All right. Will the Donald and the Babs ever kiss and make up? Well, after the whole feud involving Rosie O`Donnell, Donald may be giving Babs a second chance. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN.
HAMMER: Now, the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news right now.
TEXT: "Friday Night Lights" renewed for two more seasons. "How I Met Your Mother" star Alyson Hannigan has a baby girl!
HAMMER: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer. So tonight, have Donald Trump and Barbara Walters finally kissed and made up over their nasty Rosie O`Donnell fight? And get this, did Howard Stern help patch things up between them.
Well, first, let me remind you what went down. You may remember Rosie made fun of Donald on "The View."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ROSIE O`DONNELL, FORMER CO-HOST, "THE VIEW": (INAUDIBLE) Left the first wife, had an affair, left the second wife, had an affair. Had kids both times, but he`s the moral compass for 20-year-olds in America. Donald, sit and spin, my friend.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: A classic moment in TV history. Well, that whole Donald diss set Trump off in a big way. And he ripped into Rosie, threatened to sue her over the whole thing and dropped this bombshell to me on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, BUSINESS TYCOON: Barbara Walters, if you ask her and she tells you what she`s really thinking, she is not thrilled with Rosie, believe me. Well, Barbara Walters called me yesterday. She is a friend of mine, and she is not a big fan of Rosie.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: All right. So basically, Donald told me that Barbara told him that she regretted hiring Rosie. Well, Barbara got absolutely mad at that and denied it. And until now, Barbara and Donald have never really cleared the air.
So take a listen to what happened when Donald just popped up on Barbara`s Sirius Satellite radio show with her "View" executive producer Bill Getty.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
BARBARA WALTERS, EXECUTIVE PRODUCER AND CO-HOST, "THE VIEW": I`ve missed you.
TRUMP: I`ve missed you, too. We`re friends and we`ve been friends for a long time. And I always appreciated that indirectly you were very, very vigilant when it came to me and very fair, I thought - at least for a little while, then you became a little unfair.
WALTERS: I`ve nevertheless wished to be back -
TRUMP: These are minor details.
WALTERS: Minor details -
TRUMP: But we`ve been friends for a long time and we became friends again at Howard Stern`s wonderful (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
WALTERS: We did, indeed.
BILL GETTY, EXECUTIVE PRODUCER, "THE VIEW": That`s correct.
TRUMP: Which was terrific.
GETTY: That was great. It was like - it`s everything is fine now. We can move on.
WALTERS: We can - exactly. What a good place to have it happen at Howard Stern`s.
TRUMP: Well, we had a good time together.
WALTERS: We did. We did.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
HAMMER: OK. So things between the Donald and Barbara seem very kumbaya. She even invited him to appear on "The View." And Donald says he`s thinking about it. Brooke, I`m thrilled that those two have patched it up.
ANDERSON: Yes. Me, too, A.J.
HAMMER: That is it for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York.
ANDERSON: And I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood. You can catch SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on the 11:00s - 11:00 p.m. Eastern, 11:00 p.m. Pacific, and also in the morning, 11:00 a.m. Eastern on HLN. Take care.
END
