Jeff Bezos denied claims that Amazon backed Melania’s documentary to influence Donald Trump. The entrepreneur said he had “nothing to do” with the company’s decision to acquire the film. The controversy around Melania continues to grow after reports questioned why Amazon MGM spent heavily on the documentary.
Jeff Bezos responds to claims that he was involved in Melania Trump documentary
Jeff Bezos addressed the issue during an appearance on CNBC’s Squawk Box on May 20. The billionaire pushed back on accusations that Amazon MGM picked up Melania for political reasons. “I had nothing to do with that,” Bezos said while calling the theory “a falsehood that will not die.” He also added that the claims surrounding political influence were “just not correct (via USA Today).”
The documentary, directed by Brett Ratner, reportedly cost Amazon and MGM around $40 million to acquire. Reports from Variety and The Hollywood Reporter also stated the company spent another $35 million promoting the project. That pushed the estimated overall investment close to $75 million, which quickly sparked questions from political critics and lawmakers.
Democratic lawmakers, including Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Rep. Hank Johnson, reportedly raised concerns about whether the deal crossed ethical or legal lines. Critics pointed to reports saying Amazon MGM’s bid was much higher than rival offers, including one connected to Disney. Amazon, however, denied any wrongdoing and maintained the movie was selected because executives believed it had strong audience appeal.
Despite a weak critical reception, the documentary found viewers online. Melania reportedly earned about $16.6 million worldwide after an $8 million opening at the box office. Once it arrived on Prime Video in March, it briefly grabbed the No 1 spot on Amazon’s streaming charts and later logged 230 million viewing minutes in a single week, according to Nielsen. The film also holds a major divide on Rotten Tomatoes, with critics giving it 10% while audiences rated it at 99%.
