Friday, January 30, 2026-At a high‑profile premiere of the controversial Melania documentary at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., Amazon MGM Studios barred most mainstream news outlets from attending the screening, allowing only select far‑right media inside — a move that ignited sharp criticism and questions about transparency.
Journalists from major outlets such as The New York Times, The Washington Post, the AP, and Vanity Fair were denied tickets to the actual screening, despite being present on the red carpet beforehand, while only a handful of right‑leaning reporters were admitted.
The decision comes amid intense scrutiny over the film’s extraordinary production and marketing costs, reportedly totaling tens of millions of dollars, and its close ties to political figures.
The premiere was attended by senior Trump administration officials and the film’s director, and was followed by wide theatrical and streaming release plans. Critics have taken aim at the exclusion of independent press as a sign of controlled optics, with many arguing that such restrictions undercut journalistic standards and fuel perceptions of partisanship around the project.
Reactions from cultural commentators and late‑night hosts have been sharp and often scathing, with some mocking the event and questioning the documentary’s appeal or box‑office prospects. The block on mainstream reporting has only intensified the spotlight on the film’s release strategy and Amazon’s role, raising urgent questions about media access, influence, and the intersection of entertainment, politics, and corporate power.
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