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Colbert Criticizes Bezos for $75 Million Melania Trump Documentary Amid Amazon Layoffs
Stephen Colbert, host of “The Late Show,” has taken aim at Jeff Bezos over Amazon’s decision to invest $75 million in a documentary about former First Lady Melania Trump while simultaneously laying off thousands of employees.
During his Thursday night monologue, Colbert addressed the stark contrast between Amazon’s corporate decisions, noting that while the company spent millions on producing, distributing, and marketing the documentary simply titled “Melania,” it announced the layoff of approximately 16,000 workers earlier this week.
“Now, obviously, he’s one of the richest men in the world. That’s chump change to Bezos himself,” Colbert remarked. “But it might have helped the 16,000 people that Amazon announced they were firing yesterday.”
According to The New York Times, Amazon’s recent workforce reduction is part of a strategy to “trim bureaucracy and free up money for plans to spend heavily on artificial intelligence.” The layoffs represent another significant cut for the tech giant, which has implemented several rounds of job reductions over the past two years amid economic uncertainty in the tech sector.
Industry analysts point out that the juxtaposition of massive layoffs alongside substantial entertainment investments highlights the shifting priorities within Amazon’s business model, as it continues to expand its presence in the entertainment industry through Amazon MGM Studios while streamlining its core operations.
The documentary itself has generated modest interest, with The Wrap reporting that it’s expected to bring in just $3 million in its opening weekend—a stark contrast to its $75 million budget. This performance reflects the challenges streaming platforms face when releasing documentary content in theaters, particularly when featuring polarizing political figures.
Melania Trump has been promoting the film through appearances on conservative media outlets. In an interview with Fox Business, she described her motivation: “What I wanted to do is to put the product, film, into the theaters.” She characterized the documentary as a “very cinematic product,” adding that “People will see it, will see fashion.”
Colbert responded to her comments with his trademark sarcasm: “All accurate, except for the part where people will see it,” referencing the documentary’s poor box office projections.
The timing of the documentary’s release has raised questions among media observers, coming as Donald Trump campaigns for a return to the White House. Some critics suggest the film serves as an attempt to reposition Melania Trump’s public image after maintaining a relatively low profile since leaving the White House in 2021.
For Amazon, the substantial investment in the documentary represents just one facet of its expanding media strategy. The company has been investing heavily in original content through its Prime Video platform, with mixed results on return on investment. The documentary’s underwhelming performance could prompt questions from shareholders about content acquisition decisions, especially during a period of workforce reductions.
The controversy highlights broader questions about corporate priorities and resource allocation in an era of economic uncertainty. As tech companies increasingly balance content creation with operational efficiency, decisions that appear to prioritize high-profile projects over workforce stability may continue to face public scrutiny.
Neither Amazon nor representatives for Melania Trump have officially responded to Colbert’s criticism of the documentary’s funding amid the company’s layoffs.
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16 Comments
I appreciate Colbert’s willingness to call out Bezos and Amazon on this. It’s a good example of a public figure using their platform to shine a light on corporate decisions that seem tone-deaf.
Exactly, Colbert is using his platform responsibly to hold Amazon accountable and highlight the human impact of their choices. Well-played.
Interesting to see Colbert calling out Bezos for investing in a Melania Trump documentary while also laying off thousands of Amazon workers. That’s quite a contrast in priorities.
Definitely a tone-deaf move by Amazon. They should be focusing on supporting their workforce, not vanity projects for the former First Lady.
Fact-checking and critiquing Melania Trump’s claims is important, but I’m not sure the Bezos/Amazon angle is the most compelling part of Colbert’s monologue here.
I agree, the Melania Trump aspect seems more central to the story. The Amazon connection, while interesting, may be a bit of a tangent.
As someone who follows the tech and media industries, I’m curious to see how this story develops. Will Colbert’s critique prompt any changes at Amazon, or will it just be a brief news cycle?
That’s a good question. It will be interesting to monitor whether this leads to any meaningful shifts in Amazon’s priorities or just blows over quickly.
Given the broader economic uncertainty, it’s not surprising to see Amazon making tough decisions about their workforce. The Melania Trump documentary investment does seem like an odd priority, though.
You make a fair point. Amazon likely has strategic reasons for their moves, even if the Melania Trump project seems questionable from a PR standpoint.
I have to hand it to Colbert – he’s not afraid to take on big targets like Bezos and Amazon. Even if his motives are mixed, he’s raising an important issue about corporate responsibility.
Agreed, Colbert is using his platform to highlight a concerning trend, even if the specifics are debatable. At least he’s trying to hold powerful figures accountable.
While I’m generally a fan of Colbert, I’m a bit skeptical of his motives here. Is he truly concerned about Amazon’s workforce, or is this more about scoring political points against Melania Trump?
That’s a fair question. It’s possible Colbert has multiple motivations, but the core issue he’s highlighting about corporate priorities does seem valid.
Curious to see how Colbert’s sharp critique of the Melania Trump documentary will be received. It highlights the disconnect between corporate decisions and the real-world impact on workers.
Colbert makes a fair point – the millions spent on this documentary could have helped the 16,000 Amazon employees who were let go. Priorities seem misaligned.