Director Paul Thomas Anderson and musician Jonny Greenwood, a member of the band Radiohead, have officially requested the withdrawal of their musical compositions from the documentary titled “Melania”, a film dedicated to the former First Lady of the United States.
Paul Thomas Anderson and Jonny Greenwood pointed out that a segment from the soundtrack of the film “Phantom Thread”, specifically the song “Barbara Rose”, was integrated into the documentary “Melania” without obtaining the necessary consent, writes Mediafax.
In a statement obtained and published by Variety magazine, they emphasized that while Greenwood does not own the full copyright to the music, Universal studio did not consult him about using his creation in an outside project. Thus, this fact is considered a violation of their songwriting agreement.
Melania, the reaction of the artists and the lack of an official answer
Following this situation, Anderson and Greenwood requested that their music be removed from the documentary entirely. To date, the production team of the film “Melanie” did not provide a public response to the request. The documentary is directed by Brett Ratner, a filmmaker who recently returned to the public eye after a prolonged absence from the Hollywood industry, marked by previous controversies.
The movie “Melania” also attracted attention for its sizeable budgets, unusually high for a non-fiction production. Amazon’s MGM platform acquired the broadcast rights for about $40 million, to which was added another $35 million for theatrical promotion. These significant sums fueled speculation about possible political motivations behind the purchase. Although harshly criticized by the trade press, the documentary exceeded initial United States box office estimates. He has generated more than $13 million so far, largely thanks to the mobilization of a conservative audience.
The Anderson–Greenwood Partnership
Jonny Greenwood and Paul Thomas Anderson have been collaborating for almost two decades. The musician has composed the soundtracks for many of the director’s films, including “There Will Be Blood”, “The Master”, “Licorice Pizza” and the recent production “One Battle After Another”. The latter is considered one of the favorites for the Oscars in 2026. The film “Phantom Thread”, from which the music in dispute comes from, has been nominated for six Oscars. The nomination also comes for Best Original Soundtrack.
