Oregon theater reports Amazon ended ‘Melania’ showings due to marquee humor

Oregon Theater Claims Amazon Pulled Screening of “Melania”

An Oregon movie theater has stated that Amazon requested the cancellation of screenings for the documentary “Melania.” This followed a promotional joke made by the theater on its marquee. Located in Lake Oswego, Oregon, the Lake Theater and Café drew attention to the film with a tagline that playfully referenced the First Lady.

Reports indicate that the marquee featured sayings like, “To defeat your enemy, you must know your enemy. Melania starts on Friday,” a nod to Sun Tzu’s “The Art of War.” Another quip read, “Is Melania wearing Prada? Find out on Friday.”

Later, the theater posted on Instagram that they had been contacted by an Amazon representative who expressed dissatisfaction with their marketing approach and requested cancellation of the film.

One post quoted a call they received, stating, “I was informed that Amazon is not happy with how we are promoting their movie, so they want us to stop. They said Sunday will be our last day here.”

Following Amazon’s request, the theater humorously changed its marquee to reflect the situation, writing, “Amazon called, and our marquee upset them. All screenings of Melania are canceled. Show your support at Whole Foods instead :(.”

Another addition read, “Joining Amazon Prime means you get free 2-day shipping.”

The theater reported receiving numerous emails and voicemails from supporters and critics of the film, with some viewers feeling the theater was mocking the First Lady.

Comments about the screening led to mixed reactions, with some patrons questioning why the theater would choose to screen “Melania” in the first place.

The theater experienced a significant impact on its online reviews after the news broke, many of which were removed by Google.

The owner, Jordan Perry, clarified that the choice to screen “Melania” was not rooted in politics: “I aim to pick films that the community is interested in,” he said, emphasizing that the theater caters to a diverse audience.

Perry mentioned he believed it would be appealing to show the film, pointing out that the current market is quite limited for new releases. He acknowledged many patrons lean liberal but expressed a desire to be inclusive.

“Melania” follows the First Lady in the 20 days leading up to President Donald Trump’s second inauguration. As of now, Amazon has not confirmed any revocation of screening rights.