Fear

The funny thing about Brazilians is that they are incredibly suspicious of anything involving the U.S. government in their country, or foreigners who dare set foot in the Amazon, but they will kiss the ground of any major celebrity that goes to Brazil. Most of the time, they're there on vacation or to promote themselves, but not always.

That's why Madonna in Brazil is absolutely terrifying to me.

First off, I should point out that though Madonna is still undeniably a big celebrity in the US, it's gotten to the point where a lot of us are mostly just scared of her. We have also grown used to her diva whims, from deciding she's a Jew with her Kabbalah "conversion" to strong-arming Malawi into an essentially illegal adoption of her second African child. It's not that she doesn't do anything useful; she started a non-profit in 2006 called Raising Malawi to aid orphans there. But in Oprah-esque fashion, instead of building 1000 schools and 1000 hospitals, she decided to build a single school for $15 million (incidentally, local villagers are blocking its construction). This is why celebrities should not be in charge of development. 

Anyway, along came Jesus Luz, the strapping 23 year-old Brazilian model, and Madonna forgot about Africa for awhile. Now, she's in Rio with him, where her agenda is extremely odd and frankly, is just highly suspicious to me. According to some, she's supposed to meet Jesus's parents for the first time, since he is serious about their relationship and wants to get married, which would be Madonna's third marriage. The other thing is that she was supposed to meet with AfroReggae, one of Rio's most successful non-profits, to discuss working with them on projects and to visit several favelas where they work. Mysteriously, she cancelled the meeting and the excursions, though she did meet with a group of kids from a different non-profit--but they had to meet her at her hotel (Fasano, claro). Methinks all those upper class Brazilians she's hanging out with scared her away from the favelas.

Despite cancelling the AfroReggae plans, she had plenty of time to hit several upscale restaurants around the city, including Sushi Leblon and Yume. She also hung out with her buddy, zillionaire Eike Batista; he lent her his private jet for her trip and let her work out at his house. She's due to go to a big dinner he's hosting tonight along with Rio's mayor and governor, who are quite nearly drooling about the meeting. She's allegedly in Sao Paulo this afternoon to visit a Kabbalah center and to meet with a rabbi, and later she is expected to meet with Lula's Chief of Staff and presidential candidate, Dilma Rousseff, as well as the first lady. Maybe I'm just skeptical, but I find it incredibly inappropriate for a celebrity of her caliber to meet with so many politicians, especially on the eve of an election year and what is on a supposedly leisurely visit. It's just fishy.

Additional note: the military police have been escorting Madonna everywhere, and even got into a tiff with paparazzi when she first arrived in Rio. Does anyone else think it's inappropriate for the government to provide free security to Madonna when it doesn't even provide it to far too many Cariocas?

While it's true Brazil is very popular right now (I cannot wait to pick up this week's Economist), Madonna is in a way just like almost every other gringa I met in Rio, the majority of whom were there because of a significant other. I loved Brazil from the second I got there for the first time, but if it hadn't been for Eli, it's very possible I would have wound up moving somewhere else in Latin America. I have to give Jesus credit, who seems like a vapid model but could likely be the one encouraging all of these different plans.

The point is, I suppose, is to beware of the wolf in sheep's clothing with terrifyingly muscular arms. Just ask Malawi.

Comments

[Tim]

The star power and influence Madonna continues to have in Latin America is startling to me. I remember last December when she was in Buenos Aires reading in the morning newspaper about how she met with Cristina Kirchner and Ingrid Betancourt, something that still strikes me as absolutely absurd. But apparently Madonna warrants the same sort of state treatment as an actual hero.

[Paula LP]

Fico muito, muito envergonhada com esse deslumbre dos brasileiros em relação a ela e a outras celebridades que passam por aqui. É uma adulação assustadora e ouso dizer, estúpida.
Fico ainda mais indignada com esses encontros políticos, como vc bem disse, em véspera de eleição. Dilma agora vai querer dizer que tem veia pop para conquistar votos jovens...ahhhhhh! para!!!! É demais p/ mim, ainda mais faltando poucos dias para recebermos a visita do ..... do Ahmadinejahd.

[BZgirl]

I spotted the paparazzi sitting on the chairs of a kiosk across the street from Madonna's hotel in Ipanema yesterday, and it was a reminder of how much her presence here, and how much Brazil's reaction to her presence here, annoys me.

I think it shows a lack of priority that, close to election time, this many politicians and public figures would spend such a large portion of their time on Madonna. It makes these people seem unprofessional, shoddy, and all too easily star struck.

I also have to wonder, is her trip here motivated by a true desire for charity? Or is it that Madonna seeks to ride the trendy wave of Brazil's popularity while engaging in culturally ignorant self-promotion? Her charitable record in the country thus far suggests the latter. It is poorly organized, poorly administered, and lacks a defined goal or focus. In other words, it's all over the place.

Finally, I find Madonna's dealings with Jesus Luz to be inappropriate. Her marital track record doesn't suggest that she could enter into a lasting union with him. She's quite a bit older than him, and his mother, (I read that she's 37), and her spotty religious background isn't in line with his father's Christian roots.

It really pains me to see Brazil's politicians and media making such a big deal over someone who seems to be here for all the wrong reasons. As I skated past the paparazzi in the kiosk I wanted to scream "Go find something else to do! She's just not worth it!"

[Bracarense]

I agree, and what a pity that Brazilians fawn over Madonna when its homegrown superstars (i.e., Ivete, Daniela Mercury, Claudia Leite, Marisa Monte) actually have real talent and vastly more class. I really can't understand it at all. Camille Paglia has written many interesting observations comparing the artistic and cultural merit of Daniela Mercury vis a vis Madonna, with conclusions that are not at all flattering to Madonna -- or US culture generally.

Thankfully it hasn't been all roses for Madonna in the media though. Ego.com.br has pointed out the absurdity of her security, with a picture of her boy Jesus visibly embarrassed at the absurdity of them hiding from photographers as they were leaving Sushi Leblon, and pointing out the fact that Daniela Winits who happened to be eating there that night needed no such protection from the public. Today, Ego pointed out that she has hardly cracked a smile since arriving, and has been a complete ice queen without warmth for Brazil.

[Simone]

I am going to the the devil's advocate here... Madonna deserves the attention she gets. She is a phenomenal artist regardless of her 'strange' behavior (most people have) or obscure motives.

I am not saying we should pay more attention to her than in our lives and real issues out there, but still. If she is going to Brazil and brings more attention to community organizations and/or create an ONG in Rio, or wherever else, it is all good to me.

I am not a huge Madonna fan, but I think we need to stop to be so critical of people that have achieved so much in life.

That said, I agree with most of the opinions expressed here. So it is not that I am defending her. Not at all. I am also critical of her. I believe she should be trying to help her fellow citizens first, pushing for policies and reaching to poor children in America. But that's her life and her money, and what she does, when she does, how and why she does with them, it is up to her. No one else.

At least she does something, even if, at the end, it serves her own selfish purposes as well.

[Debi]

Excellent point of view and I am in total agreement with all your comments. I believe there is a hidden agenda as well and I also read that she was meeting with zillionaire Eike Batista because he is supposed to be contributing to her Malawi foundation. On the bright side, there are so many worthy causes needing attention in Rio, so if her new boy-toy can sway here to do some good there then it's not a total lost.

[luasol]

I did not know she was dating a 23 year old Brazilian. Shows how little I pay attention to Madonna:)I know this sounds cynical, but a lot of Brazilians are so swayed by such celebrity status. Would not surprise me if the mother was supportive, because she is thinking money and being around famous people. Look at the Brazilian model whom had a baby with Mick Jagger. She has money, has her own tv show. Madonna is old enough to be his mother. But no one complains about Mick Jagger and any other rich men being with younger women. Just pointing out the double standards.

[mallory elise]

do you know if she speaks portuguese??? i guess she could hire a personal translator to follow her around. well...i guess i can't blame her for moving to brazil to marry a brazilian :P