Radiohead Star Jonny Greenwood Demands Music Removal from Melania Trump Documentary
Radiohead guitarist and composer Jonny Greenwood, alongside acclaimed director Paul Thomas Anderson, has formally requested the removal of music from their 2017 film Phantom Thread from Melania Trump's controversial Amazon documentary. The musician alleges a clear breach of his composer agreement after discovering the unauthorised use of his work in the film.
Legal Breach Allegations Over Copyright Usage
In a joint statement obtained by Variety, representatives for Greenwood and Anderson confirmed their position. The statement revealed that while Greenwood does not hold the copyright to the Phantom Thread score, the film's distributor Universal Pictures failed to consult him regarding this third-party usage, constituting a direct violation of his contractual agreement.
"It has come to our attention that a piece of music from Phantom Thread has been used in the Melania documentary," the statement declared. "Universal failed to consult Jonny on this third-party use, which is a breach of his composer agreement. As a result, Jonny and Paul Thomas Anderson have asked for it to be removed from the documentary."
The Independent has contacted both Amazon MGM Studios and Universal Pictures for official comment regarding these serious allegations.
Documentary Content and Box Office Performance
The documentary in question, directed by Brett Ratner, follows the former first lady during the twenty days preceding her husband Donald Trump's second presidential inauguration. The film incorporates a substantial excerpt of "Barbara Rose", a composition Greenwood specifically created for Anderson's Oscar-nominated drama.
Despite widespread critical panning, the documentary has demonstrated surprising commercial performance, earning $13.35 million domestically during its initial two weekends of release. This exceeded industry projections, largely attributed to organised groups of Republican women constituting a significant portion of the audience.
Financial Context and Industry Speculation
Nevertheless, the film remains unlikely to recoup its substantial production and marketing costs. Amazon MGM reportedly paid $40 million for distribution rights, with an additional $35 million allocated for marketing campaigns, making it one of the most expensive documentary projects in cinematic history.
This extraordinary financial commitment has sparked considerable industry speculation regarding Amazon's motivations, with some analysts suggesting the purchase represented a strategic move to establish closer relations with former President Donald Trump's administration.
Critical Reception and Filmmaker Background
The documentary has received overwhelmingly negative reviews from critics across the board. The Independent's Nick Hilton awarded the film a one-star review, describing it as "transparently not a documentary" and criticising its artificial construction that "hovers somewhere between reality television and pure fiction."
The project marks the return of director Brett Ratner, who relocated to Israel following multiple sexual misconduct allegations in 2017. Ratner has consistently denied any wrongdoing and has never faced formal criminal charges related to these allegations.
Greenwood's Evolving Career Trajectory
In recent years, Jonny Greenwood has increasingly focused his creative energies on film composition rather than rock music. The musician has contributed to scores for twelve cinematic projects, including notable works such as One Battle After Another, There Will Be Blood, and Liquorice Pizza.
Phantom Thread itself received six Academy Award nominations, including recognition for Best Original Score, underscoring Greenwood's significant achievements within the film industry beyond his legendary status with Radiohead.
