Back in August, Madonna was booed by fans at her concert in Romania for speaking out against discrimination against Eastern Europe’s Gypsies also known as Roma.

On Saturday, the Associated Press reports that actor Ethan Hawke, while in Romania has come to Madonna’s defense saying, “She transcended being a pop star. She drew international attention and shone the spotlight on a level of racism and the need for greater education.”

Madonna’s publicist said the the star “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 during the concert.”

There were a few cheers from the crowd but her words were generally not met with support. Human rights advocates say the Roma, who live predominately in Southern and Eastern Europe, probably suffer more humiliation and endure more discrimination than any other group on the continent.

Hawke himself has been visiting Romania since the year 2000 in support of the Ovidiu Rom Charity of which his mother Leslie Hawke is the president. She is an avid supporter of their “Every Child in School Campaign.”

The Guardian newspaper reports that Romania has the largest number of Roma in Europe. Officially, there are half a million Roma in Romania, but there are actually believed to be as many as two million in the country.

While many Eastern Europeans are enthusiastic about Gypsy music and dance, one in two of Europe’s estimated 12 million Roma claim to have suffered an act of discrimination in the past year, according to an EU report.

After Madonna’s concert, she walked the walk right out of her favorite pair of gold Chirstian Dior shoes, autographed them and donated them to the Ovidiu Rom Charities annual Halloween Ball. Until the Oct. 31, they were on display at the Hard Rock Cafe Herastrau. Seventy-five percent of the price of a new drink called “The Madonna” has been going toward the Ovidiu Rom initiative to educate Roma children.

Photo courtesy austinistdorcom via Flickr.

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