South Africa Pulls Melania Trump Documentary – Sparks Outrage and Debate
The upcoming documentary about Melania Trump has hit a major roadblock in South Africa. Just days before its scheduled global debut on January 30, the film, simply titled Melania, was pulled from theaters across the country. The news was confirmed by Filmfinity, the local distributor, who spoke to News24 about the decision.
Based on recent developments, we’ve taken the decision to not go ahead with a theatrical release in territory, said Thobashan Govindarajulu, Filmfinity’s head of sales and marketing. He added that the move was not made under pressur[e], but cited the current climate as the reason for scrapping the release.
Reports suggest the decision is linked to ongoing political tensions between South Africa and the United States. In recent months, President Donald Trump publicly criticized South Africa, making controversial and widely discredited claims about a supposed “genocide” of the white population in the country. In response, South Africa temporarily stepped back from G20 meetings, highlighting a growing diplomatic rift.
The documentary has already been controversial before its release. Directed by Brett Ratner, who is making a Hollywood comeback after previous sexual misconduct allegations, the film cost Amazon MGM Studios $40 million to acquire. The project covers the 20 days leading up to Trump’s second inauguration, offering a personal look at the former First Lady during a critical period. According to the filmmakers, it provides a window into an important period for America.
MELANIA, the film, exclusively in theaters worldwide on January 30th, 2026. pic.twitter.com/n2kloQ4JwW
— MELANIA TRUMP (@MELANIATRUMP) December 17, 2025
Comedy host Jimmy Kimmel also recently poked fun at the documentary on Jimmy Kimmel Live. Citing Michael Wolff, who discussed the film on his Inside Trump’s Head podcast, Kimmel joked, According to the writer Michael Wolff, Melania is bigly upset that the murders in Minneapolis are overshadowing the release of the $75 million bribe — I mean, documentary — that Amazon made for her. He added that she was reportedly truly pissed off that national news cycles were limiting attention on the film.
Outside of the documentary, Melania Trump has been busy with her work as First Lady. She has pushed forward the Take It Down Act, which makes it illegal to share intimate images without consent, and has expanded her international foster child initiative, Fostering the Future. She also rang the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange recently, using the event to promote her film.
The documentary is set to open in over 2,000 theaters in the United States. While President Trump has called it a must watch, critics remain divided, seeing it as a high-budget exercise in image management. Amazon is reportedly planning a follow-up docuseries, with Melania herself involved in editorial choices including color correction and music selection.
The decision to block the South African release has reignited debate over whether political tensions should influence what audiences can see. Do you think the decision to pull the documentary in South Africa is fair because of politics, or should people always have the right to see a film?
