Military Troops ‘Pressured’ to Watch Melania Documentary Under Threat, Report Says

Melania Trump’s documentary has grossed over $15 million at the box office, but a significant share of that total reportedly came from people who said they were forced to watch the film against their will. According to a report by Business Insider, several U.S. military members were ordered by their commanders to watch the film in theaters.

The documentary about the First Lady hit theaters worldwide on January 30. Following the release, non-profit organization the Military Religious Freedom Foundation (MRFF) said it received complaints from several military personnel about being pressured to watch the film.

The organization received complaints from people stationed at eight U.S. military bases. Not only service personnel but also their family members were apparently asked to head to theaters to watch the story of the First Lady on the big screen.

Because military commanders have significant control over their subordinates, personnel were obliged to follow orders. Mikey Weinstein, founder and president of MRFF, said, “People are scared. They were pressured to see the movie. Your military superior, that's not your shift manager at Taco Bell or Starbucks. They have complete and total control over you.”

Citing an email the nonprofit received from a military service man, Weinstein said many were worried they would face consequences if they did not follow their commanders’ orders. Some attended the screening, while others said they were sick to avoid the showing.

In the order, a commander reportedly labeled the movie a ‘Unit Activity Event’ which includes team-building and morale-boosting activities. The email said military personnel are required to attend three Unit Activity Events every month and face penalties if they fail to do so.

While MRFF said it received complaints from several military bases, the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) refuted the reports. A department spokesperson said, “There is no Department of War directive requiring service members to see this film, though the film is fantastic.”

Meanwhile, Melania is on its way to becoming a box office disappointment. While the film exceeded expectations and earned $7 million on its opening weekend, its earnings were overshadowed by its $75 million budget. Amazon MGM Studios reportedly paid $40 million to acquire the documentary and spent another $35 million on marketing.

After three weekends in cinemas, the total stands at $15.4 million. Amazon is hopeful the film will recoup its budget after its Prime Video streaming release. The film chronicles Melania Trump’s life during the 20 days leading up to Donald Trump’s second inauguration as president.

The project has been mired in controversy since its inception, as director Brett Ratner has faced s----- assault allegations from multiple women in the past. Melania has also been panned by critics and currently holds a 11 percent score on Rotten Tomatoes. Alongside military personnel, Republican women are said to make up a significant portion of the film’s theater audience.