Jeff Bezos Defends Melania Movie, Says It Was Good Business
The Hollywood Reporter • • business
Key Points:
- Jeff Bezos stated that Amazon's $75 million documentary on Melania Trump was a "good business decision," emphasizing he was not involved in acquiring the project from director Brett Ratner.
- Bezos denied claims that the documentary was intended to placate President Trump, calling such suggestions a "falsehood" and highlighting the film's solid performance in theaters and on Amazon Prime Video.
- The documentary grossed around $16.6 million worldwide, with Amazon reportedly spending $40 million to acquire it and $35 million on marketing; a related docuseries is planned for future release.
- Bezos defended editorial decisions at The Washington Post, stressing the importance of profitability and relevance, while maintaining a strong commitment to investigative journalism despite newsroom layoffs.
- He emphasized that The Post must stand on its own financially without being a charity, aiming to remain a vital institution with a focus on free markets and individual liberties.