Amazon faces pressure from Sen. Warren and others to make ‘Melania’ movie deal
Democratic lawmakers are pressuring Amazon to force its studio to buy first lady Melania Trump’s films for $40 million, citing bribery concerns.
Jeff Bezos is refuting allegations that Amazon’s MGM Studios acquired and released the documentary “Melania” as a way to curry favor with President Donald Trump.
On May 20, on CNBC’s “Squawk Box,” the Amazon founder called the theory a “persistent falsehood” and said he had no role in the decision to buy the film, which centers on first lady Melania Trump.
“I had nothing to do with it,” Bezos said, acknowledging that he understands why critics question the timing and size of the investment, but added that claims that there was a political motive behind the deal are “simply untrue.”
The documentary was directed by Brett Ratner, who was acquired in a reported $40 million deal. Variety and The Hollywood Reporter reported that Amazon MGM spent an additional $35 million on marketing, bringing the total cost to around $75 million.
Political surveillance and ethical issues
The investment has drawn criticism from Democratic lawmakers, including Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Rep. Hank Johnson of Georgia, who question whether the deal complies with federal anti-bribery laws.
Lawmakers expressed concern that Amazon MGM’s reported bid exceeded competing offers, including from Walt Disney Co., and suggested the size of the deal raised questions about its potential political influence.
Amazon has denied any wrongdoing and said the project was selected through a competitive process based on content and audience appeal.
Bezos talks about business decisions and media criticism
Bezos reiterated that Amazon’s entertainment decisions are made without political considerations and argued that claims of “influence buying” do not reflect the way the company is run.
He highlighted strong audience interest as justification for the acquisition, saying the subject continues to generate significant engagement in theaters and across streaming platforms.
“Melania” grossed approximately $8 million at the box office, with worldwide box office revenue of approximately $16.6 million. After being released on Prime Video on March 9, the film briefly topped Amazon’s streaming charts. It ranked No. 7 on Nielsen’s weekly movie streaming list, with 230 million minutes watched in its first week.
Critical and audience reactions were very mixed, with the documentary receiving a 10% critic score and a 98% audience rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
Reporter Anthony Thompson can be reached at ajthompson@usatodayco.com or on Twitter @athompsonUSAT.
