While in Venice to debut her new film, W.E., Madonna found time to sit down with Italian weekly magazine Oggi. She may have been hoping to promote her latest directorial project, but the Queen of Pop has instead been pulled into a political fight over an offhand comment that has outraged some Italian politicians.
When asked what she thought of scandal-prone Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, Madonna replied: "What do I think about Berlusconi? I wouldn't like to talk about it now. But didn't The Economist say it all?".
The superstar was referring to a recent edition of the British publication that plastered a picture of Mr. Berlusconi on its cover with the headline: "The Man Who Screwed an Entire Country". Madonna went on to say that Berlusconi was "unsuited to govern Italy".
Members of Silvio Berlusconi's Party, Popolo delle Libertà (PDL), were quick to defend him from the singer's dismissive observation.
Carlo Giovanardi, a government minister angrily dismissed her comments, saying: "Her political thoughts are worth nothing. Among other things, she is openly for homosexual families and therefore openly against our culture and our constitution”.
Another Berlusconi supporter hoped that W.E. would flop to teach the pop star a lesson. Daniela Santanché said: "Madonna has offended millions of Italians. After this, I hope she'll be left to watch her movie on her own".
Gabriella Carlucci, yet another PDL politician, had Madonna's motivations all figured out: “It is obvious she has a Communist press officer who told her what to say to get quoted in communist papers”.
