MADONNA - MADONNA DEFENDS FRIEND O'DONNELL

Pop star MADONNA has come to the defence of her pal ROSIE O'DONNELL regarding her ongoing war of words with real estate mogul DONALD TRUMP. The HUNG UP star was unaware of the feud while on a family holiday, but found out about the spat during a promotional tour for the animated film ARTHUR AND THE INVISIBLES in New York City. She explained, "Basically, she is a standup comic. I think all standup comics talk about provocative things in their monologues before shows... I don't know exactly the content of what she said, but I have a feeling if every standup comic was penalized for saying every politically incorrect thing.. they'd all be hung in the public square." The feud between O'Donnell and Trump began last month (DEC06) when THE VIEW co-host criticised Trump's decision to reinstate troubled Miss USA TARA CONNER after she was caught drinking while underage. Madonna, who became friends with O'Donnell after they starred in the film A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN, adds, "I think people are giving Rosie a hard time. I wish they'd stop. I don't think it's fair."