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27. 08. 09. - 12:00

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27. 08. 09. - 12:00

Madonna booed over gipsy speech

Romanian Times

Madonna was booed by fans in Romania after she told them to be nice to gypsies.

The star was in the Romanian capital Bucharest for a concert as part of her Sticky and Sweet tour and spoke to fans during her La Isla Bonita song which was played with a gypsy music rhythm.

She told them: "I've never been to Romania before and I am happy to be here.

"But I found out that there is a lot of discrimination against gypsies in Eastern Europe and that makes me very sad, especially because we believe in acceptance, gypsies, homosexuals, people that are different. Everyone must be treated the same, don't forget that!"

But instead of the applause she expected fans jeered and booed the statement.

There are over 500,000 gypsies officially registered in Romania but the real numbers are expected to be much more as many have not declared their ethnicity in a country where they face widespread discrimination.

They are Romania's most socially and economically disadvantaged minority, with high illiteracy levels.

Madonna was staying at the five-star Radisson SAS Hotel in Bucharest with her two daughters, Lourdes and Mercy, and her close staff.

The star is to leave Bucharest today (Thurs) for her next concert, in Sofia, Bulgaria.

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