The self-proclaimed king of the Roma said Tuesday he wants to give Madonna a gold plaque to thank the singer for criticizing discrimination against his people.
Madonna performed in Bucharest in August as part of her “Sticky and Sweet” tour, and at the concert said she was “very sad” because of the “discrimination against Romas and Gypsies in general in eastern Europe”.
Self-declared king Florin Cioaba said the Roma wanted to show their appreciation for the US star’s gesture.
“Madonna deserves great credit. She drew the whole world’s attention to discrimination against the Roma,” Cioaba told journalists in the central Romanian town of Sibiu.
The plaque has been ordered from a jeweler in Italy and will be made from 24-carat gold, the Romanian news agency Mediafax reported.
Romania has one of Europe’s largest communities of Roma, an ethnic minority believed to originate from the Indian subcontinent often referred to as Gypsies.
Discrimination against the group in Romania continues: a survey last September found that seven out of 10 Romanians would not want a Roma to be part of their family, and Madonna was jeered by the crowd when she made her remarks at the concert.
Last year Amnesty International criticised the Romanian authorities’ lack of action to tackle discrimination against Roma, a problem it said was “widespread and deeply ingrained in (people’s) minds.”
Madonna performed in Bucharest in August as part of her “Sticky and Sweet” tour, and at the concert said she was “very sad” because of the “discrimination against Romas and Gypsies in general in eastern Europe”.
Self-declared king Florin Cioaba said the Roma wanted to show their appreciation for the US star’s gesture.
“Madonna deserves great credit. She drew the whole world’s attention to discrimination against the Roma,” Cioaba told journalists in the central Romanian town of Sibiu.
The plaque has been ordered from a jeweler in Italy and will be made from 24-carat gold, the Romanian news agency Mediafax reported.
Romania has one of Europe’s largest communities of Roma, an ethnic minority believed to originate from the Indian subcontinent often referred to as Gypsies.
Discrimination against the group in Romania continues: a survey last September found that seven out of 10 Romanians would not want a Roma to be part of their family, and Madonna was jeered by the crowd when she made her remarks at the concert.
Last year Amnesty International criticised the Romanian authorities’ lack of action to tackle discrimination against Roma, a problem it said was “widespread and deeply ingrained in (people’s) minds.”
Madonna has been crowned the most famous celebrity of the decade with more articles written about her than anyone else.
The 51-year-old star was the focus of more than 45,000 stories since 2000.
Her nearest rival was Robbie Williams – with just under 28,000 newspaper mentions.
The celebrity of the decade survey was conducted by Liv, the UK’s first online TV channel.
Britney Spears and David and Victoria Beckham make up the rest of the top five.
But this year no one could compete with king of pop Michael Jackson who was easily the most talked about star.
The tragic legend was the focus of 6,838 articles – covering both his planned comeback concerts and his untimely death in June.
Meanwhile the award for most-improved celebrity goes to Simon Cowell who garnered just 18 stories in 2000 – but by this year was the written about over 6,000 times.
The 51-year-old star was the focus of more than 45,000 stories since 2000.
Her nearest rival was Robbie Williams – with just under 28,000 newspaper mentions.
The celebrity of the decade survey was conducted by Liv, the UK’s first online TV channel.
Britney Spears and David and Victoria Beckham make up the rest of the top five.
But this year no one could compete with king of pop Michael Jackson who was easily the most talked about star.
The tragic legend was the focus of 6,838 articles – covering both his planned comeback concerts and his untimely death in June.
Meanwhile the award for most-improved celebrity goes to Simon Cowell who garnered just 18 stories in 2000 – but by this year was the written about over 6,000 times.
As we're nearing the end of the decade, a lot of best of lists are getting published these days. Latest is the 100 Best Songs of the Decade by Rolling Stone magazine, where Madonna has two entries: the first two songs of the Celebration compilation, Hung Up at #76 and Music at #66. For the latter, they even give a small write up:
Despite all the new pop starlets out there trying to jump her train, Madonna definitely was not slackening the pace. When she dropped Music, she was older than Britney and Christina combined, yet she took them to school with vintage electro-boom, Eurodisco flourishes from French producer Mirwais, and her own inimitable sass.
Despite all the new pop starlets out there trying to jump her train, Madonna definitely was not slackening the pace. When she dropped Music, she was older than Britney and Christina combined, yet she took them to school with vintage electro-boom, Eurodisco flourishes from French producer Mirwais, and her own inimitable sass.