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By Jordan King
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Melania, the new documentary about U.S. first lady Melania Trump, has been pulled from theaters in South Africa.
The film's local distributor, Filmfinity, dropped Melania on Tuesday ahead of its January 30 release date, the South African outlet News24 reported.
Thobashan Govindarajulu, Filmfinity's head of sales and marketing, told Newsweek the decision was taken because of the "current climate" but declined to go into any further detail.
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Newsweek has contacted Amazon MGM Studios, one of the documentary's major producers, and the White House for comment via email.
Why It Matters
The specifics behind Filmfinity's decision remain unclear. Last year, significant tensions developed between the White House and the South African government, with the U.S. president saying "white genocide" was taking place against Afrikaner farmers. Trump later created a dedicated refugee program to allow white South Africans to live in the U.S.
The South African government has repeatedly and vehemently denied the claim, arguing that violent crime affects everyone in the country. In November, the Trump administration boycotted a Group of 20 summit hosted in South Africa, calling it a "total disgrace" that the event was being held there.
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What To Know
Govindarajulu told Newsweek, "Based on the current climate, we've taken the decision to not go ahead with a theatrical release in territory."
As of Thursday, Melania did not appear on the websites of major South African cinema chains Nu Metro and Ster-Kinekor.
Ster-Kinekor CEO Mark Sardi told The New York Times that the chain had previously been told that Melania complied with regulations and would be released. He said he did not know why the distributor changed course.
"Our basic position would be we're not in the business of censorship," he said. "I expect the decision would have been a commercial one balanced with a whole lot of current issues."
The 104-minute film lands in the United States and some global theaters this week. The first lady told Fox News that it provides a "private, unfiltered look as I navigate family, business, and philanthropy on my remarkable journey to becoming first lady of the United States of America."
What People Are Saying
First lady Melania Trump wrote on X on January 25: "I am deeply humbled to have been surrounded by an inspiring room of friends, family, and cultural iconoclasts at the White House last night. Each of these individuals each brought their unique vision to the world, making a lasting impression. Our personal stories endure time and serve as a reminder of our mutual obligation to one another. It was an honor to present my new film, MELANIA, ahead of its global launch."
President Donald Trump said earlier in January about the film: "I've seen pieces of it. It's incredible. … It's going to be doing the premier at the Trump Kennedy Center. It's a very hard ticket. Everybody, Wayne Gretzky and his wife, beautiful wife. Everybody wants tickets."
What Happens Next
Filmfinity did not provide a timeline for any alternative release plans in South Africa. The film is set to be released in the United States on Friday.
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