What's Really Going On With Madonna's Charities?

Residents must relocate, but singer did compensate them

(NEWSER) - Madonna wants to help Malawi with her $15 million girls’ school so much that she’s ejecting villagers to make it happen. Residents didn’t want to leave the school site just outside the capital, but the government handed the land over to Madonna and told 200 Malawians they must move to another government site. Madonna did, at least, pay the villagers about $115,000 for their houses, the future principal of her school tells the AP . More»

Ex-CFO aims to 'bring down' operation

(NEWSER) - The Kabbalah Centre in Los Angeles is taking center stage as details emerge on a federal probe involving two of Madonna’s charities . The IRS is investigating whether the family in charge of the organization used its nonprofit dollars for personal gain, sources tell the Los Angeles Times . The Berg family, the Centre, and the singer’s Raising Malawi charity all face a grand jury probe. More»

Her charitable foundation pulls plug amid financial mess

(NEWSER) - A plan spearheaded by Madonna to build a $15 million school for impoverished girls in Malawi has been officially scrapped amid charges that the people running the project on her behalf squandered millions, reports the New York Times . In addition, the foundation Madonna founded with other Kabbalah devotees, Raising Malawi, has ousted its board of directors over the mess. The singer is among those stepping in to form a caretaker board. More»

Alex Rodriguez tries Buddhism on for size, thanks to Kate Hudson

(NEWSER) - It seems only yesterday Alex Rodriguez was dabbling in Kabbalah to please galpal Madonna. But those days are over, and the Yankees slugger has moved on to a new woman and a new religion. The “religious chameleon,” as one pal calls him, is now flirting with Buddhism to make new lady friend Kate Hudson happy, the New York Daily News reports. More»

Singer flip-flops between Christianity, Kabbalah, Hinduism...

(NEWSER) - Britney Spears was raised a Baptist, but her latest accessory—a Star of David necklace—led the New York Daily News to take a look back at the religions she’s tried out:

• In 2003, it looked as though she would be one of Madonna’s Kabbalah converts, and she started sporting a red string bracelet believed to ward off the “evil eye.”