American singer, actress, and businesswoman Madonna Louise Ciccone, known to many as simply Madonna, raised more than $7.5 million for Malawi on Friday at a star-studded party in Miami, where she also spoke out against President-elect Donald Trump. According to AP News, the multiple-time Grammy Award-winning star auctioned off her personal treasures, including pieces from her own art collection, a dress from her tour, and black-and-white photos from her 1985 wedding to ex-husband Sean Penn.
This money will go towards her Raising Malawi charity organization.
Toxic Trump
During the event, the “Queen of Pop” went on to criticize Trump for his toxic campaign, in which he promised to deport all undocumented migrants and ban all Muslims from entering the United States. She even went as far as saying that she was ashamed to be an American.
“It just really makes me feel ashamed, ashamed to be an American, ashamed to be a human being, really,” she said.
She also joked that she had once been in Trump’s bed for a magazine photo shoot, but criticized his bed sheets for being cheap.
“They won’t be Egyptian cotton because we all know how he feels about Muslims don’t we?” Madonna said to the amusement of the audience.
She then went on to perform a slowed-down version of Britney Spears’ hit song “Toxic” and seductively sang, “You know that you’re toxic,” as images of Trump ran on a big screen behind her.
Committed to Malawi
The celebrated singer started the charity organization in 2006 and is currently helping to construct the first pediatric surgery and intensive care unit in Malawi. She has also adopted two Malawian children, David and Mercy.
Madonna with her adopted children David and Mercy. Photo Credit: Celebrity Baby Scoop
David, who is now 11-years-old, was adopted more than a decade ago from an orphanage in Malawi where he was staying after losing his mother during delivery.
Mercy, also 11, was adopted in 2009 amid controversy over the custody agreement. At the time, a friend of Mercy’s biological mother went to court arguing that the girl’s family didn’t intend to be permanently separated from their daughter.
According to Madonna, Mercy makes a trip each year to Malawi to spend time with her relatives.
The fundraising party was described as a night of music, art, mischief, and performance and it coincided with Art Basel, an international art fair in Miami Beach, Florida.
The event, which lasted until early Saturday morning, included a special concert from Madonna, a cocktail reception, a seated dinner, and a live art auction.
Other celebrities present included Ariana Grande, Chris Rock, James Corden, and Madonna’s ex-husband Sean Penn.
