Jeff Bezos has denied having any personal role in Amazon's $40 million acquisition of the documentary "Melania," even as he described the investment as a good business decision for the company.
Speaking in a televised interview on Wednesday, the Amazon founder said reports that he pushed for the "Melania" deal are wrong and have persisted despite repeated denials from both his side and Melania Trump's office.
Bezos said he "had nothing to do" with greenlighting or negotiating the project, which follows first lady Melania Trump, and emphasized that Amazon's content teams operate independently, according to Fox Business.
He described claims about his direct involvement as inaccurate and insisted that decisions on films such as "Melania" are made through Amazon's usual internal process.
Amazon reportedly paid $40 million for rights to "Melania," with an additional estimated $35 million set aside for marketing, prompting questions about the size of the investment.
Forbes has reported that Melania Trump is expected to receive about $28 million from the deal, drawing further attention to the financial terms surrounding the project. Some critics and political observers have questioned whether the film amounts to an attempt to gain favor with the Trump White House, a suggestion Bezos has rejected.
The film, directed by Brett Ratner, who has previously faced multiple allegations of sexual misconduct from several women, was released in January without advance press screenings.
It went on to take in about $16.7 million at the global box office, falling short of covering its reported production and acquisition costs. While "Melania" later appeared on Amazon's internal list of most-watched films after its streaming debut, the company has not disclosed specific viewing figures to the public.
Despite distancing himself from any hands-on role, Bezos has repeatedly described the documentary as a "very wise" and "good business decision." He said the film's viewership and ongoing interest in Melania Trump demonstrate strong commercial potential and justified Amazon's bet on the project, as per The Guardian.
Originally published on vcpost.com
