Jeff Bezos calls Amazon documentary on Melania Trump a 'good business decision'
Podcast host Emily Austin discusses Melania Trump's film 'Melania,' and the hypocrisy of celebrity activism at events like the Grammys on 'Kudlow.'
The founder of Amazon, Jeff Bezos, on Wednesday defended his company's decision to support Melania Trump's document, saying that he was not involved in the agreement and rejecting allegations that it was intended to gain favor with President Donald Trump.
Speaking to CNBC's Andrew Ross Sorkin, the tech billionaire dismissed reports that he pushed Amazon to acquire the film.
“The 'Melania' thing is a lie that will never die,” Bezos said. “I see it's been reported all along that somehow I was involved in this … It's not true. We've denied it. Melania's office has denied it. It's not true.”
Still, Bezos said the “Melania” documentary seemed like a smart investment.
“It seems like it was a good business decision. You know, it did very well in theaters, it did very well in broadcast. People are curious about Melania,” Bezos said. “Even though I had nothing to do with it, it seemed like the Amazon team made a very smart business decision.”
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Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon, is shown during the America Business Forum in Miami, Fla. (Eva Marie Uzcategui/Bloomberg via Getty Images, File/Getty Images)
Bezos added that Amazon often makes big decisions without his direct input, citing the company's successful turnaround of “Project Hail Mary” as another example.
“I also didn't have anything to do with 'Project Hail Mary,' which I regret because it's been an incredible success. I wish I could have covered that, but I didn't,” Bezos told CNBC. “… Amazon is a big company, it makes a lot of decisions, but no, this idea that somehow that's a way to buy influence is wrong.”
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President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump attend the world premiere of Amazon MGM's “Melania” at The Trump Kennedy Center in Washington, DC. (Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images, File / Getty Images)
The documentary “Melania” follows 20 days in the life of Melania Trump just before the Presidency Donald Trumpsecond term in office.
Amazon MGM Studios reportedly spent $40 million to acquire “Melania,” which opened in theaters in February. The film earned $16.6 million at the worldwide box office, according to The Hill.
| A ticker | Security | Finally | Change | change % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AMZN | Company AMAZON.COM INC. | 265.01 | +5,67 |
+2.19% |
In March, Democratic lawmakers — including Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Reps. Hank Johnson, Dan Goldman and Ben Ray Luján – sent a letter to Amazon CEO Andy Jassy questioning the reportedly “extraordinary” price and raising concerns that the investment could resemble a pay-to-play arrangement with the Trump administration, the report said.
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Amazon's founder has defended the company's decision to support Melania Trump's documentary. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images/Getty Images)
Bezos also addressed the criticism surrounding his influence over The Washington Post.
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“But, the same thing with The Post, I want the opinion piece to represent free markets, kind of what I was talking about with you today, free markets and individual freedom,” Bezos said. “I think they are [the] America's founding pillars. It's one of the reasons why America has been so successful.”
Amazon and Bezos were not immediately available for comment.
