Major cinema chains in South Africa have pulled a documentary about Melania Trump just before its scheduled release, citing concerns over “the current climate,” the exhibitors said Friday.
The film, which follows Melania Trump in the weeks leading up to her husband Donald Trump’s second inauguration, was withdrawn from listings by multiple theatres only days before it was to premiere, according to distribution notices and exhibitor statements. Organisers did not provide further detail on specific security or diplomatic concerns behind the decision.
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The abrupt removal comes amid strained relations between South Africa and the administration of President Donald Trump. In recent months, Trump has publicly criticised South Africa on a range of domestic and international issues, including repeated — and widely disputed — assertions that a “genocide” is being carried out against the white Afrikaans community. His administration also put forward a U.S. refugee program intended to facilitate settlement for white Afrikaners in the United States, a move that drew sharp rebukes in Pretoria and among South African civil society.
Exhibitors declined to link the cancellation directly to specific political actions, but acknowledged that the broader diplomatic atmosphere had factored into their cautious approach. “Given the current climate, we have decided it is not appropriate to proceed with the public release at this time,” one chain said in a brief statement. Organisers and the film’s distributors did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The decision underscores how international politics can affect cultural programming and film distribution. South African cinemas routinely screen international documentaries and features, but distributors said the short notice and heightened sensitivities around U.S.–South Africa relations made it difficult to move ahead without additional assurances.
Industry observers said the pull raises questions about artistic freedom and the responsibilities of commercial venues when political tensions are high. “When diplomacy and domestic politics spill into cultural spaces, exhibitors face difficult judgments about safety, audience response and legal exposure,” one distributor said, speaking on condition of anonymity because of ongoing discussions with theatre operators.
It was not clear whether the film’s producers would seek alternative screening venues in South Africa or postpone a public premiere pending diplomatic developments. The story is developing; further details may emerge as distributors and cinemas clarify the reasons for the withdrawal.
By News-room
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.
