Madonna says she felt compelled to talk about the Roma discrimination in Romania

During her concert in Bucharest, Madonna attracted negative reactions from the spectators after she talked about the discrimination n Romania. „Madonna toured accompanied by a spectacular band of Roma musicians, who made her aware of the discrimination they have to face in certain countries”, the artist’s publicist Liz Rosenberg explains, quoted by the bbc.co.uk.

„It has been brought to my attention, that there is a lot of discrimination against Romanies and Gypsies in general in Eastern Europe – it made me feel very sad. We don’t believe in discrimination, we believe in freedom and equal rights for everyone”, Madonna declared during her concert from Izvor Park.

Liz Rosenberg claims the artist made the statements after learning about the prejudices the Roma have to deal with in East Europe. Madonna also told her publicist there were both jeers and cheers coming from the 60.000 spectators present at her concert.

„Madonna has been touring with a phenomenal troupe of Roma musicians who made her aware of the discrimination toward them in several countries so she felt compelled to make a brief statement,” Liz Rosenberg says.

Romania hosts the largest Roma minority in Eastern Europe. About half of the 12 million Romas from Europe claim they have been victims of discrimination within the last 12 months, according to a EU Fundamental Rights Agency report.