South Africa Cancels Release of ‘Melania’ Documentary

The documentary "Melania," about Melania Trump, has been pulled from theaters in South Africa by its local distributor, Filmfinity, just before its scheduled release on Friday, January 28, 2026. The distributor cited "recent developments" as the reason for the cancellation but declined to elaborate. The film, directed by Brett Ratner, who faced sexual misconduct allegations in 2017, follows Ms. Trump leading up to her husband's second inauguration. While President Trump promoted the film, it has faced criticism and reportedly low ticket sales. The decision to cancel the release also comes amid strained relations between the South African government and President Trump, who has been critical of the country.