The filmmaker and musician claim that “Universal failed to consult Jonny on this third-party use which is a breach of his composer agreement.”

Paul Thomas Anderson and Jonny Greenwood call for Phantom Thread music to be removed from Melania doc

The filmmaker and musician claim that "Universal failed to consult Jonny on this third-party use which is a breach of his composer agreement.”

By Emlyn Travis

Emlyn Travis is a news writer at **. She has been working at EW since 2022. Her work has previously appeared on MTV News, Teen Vogue, and *NME*.

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February 9, 2026 12:50 p.m. ET

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Daniel Day-Lewis in 'Phantom Thread' ; Melania Trump in 'Melania'. Credit:

Courtesy of Focus Features; Amazon MGM Studios

Paul Thomas Anderson and Jonny Greenwood are calling for a piece of music from their Oscar-winning film *Phantom Thread* to be cut from Melania Trump’s controversial documentary. **

The filmmaker, 55, and Radiohead guitarist, 54, issued a joint statement on Monday that was obtained by *.* **

“It has come to our attention that a piece of music from *Phantom Thread* has been used in the Melania documentary,” they said. “While Jonny Greenwood does not own the copyright in the score, Universal failed to consult Jonny on this third-party use which is a breach of his composer agreement.”

Jonny Greenwood and director Paul Thomas Anderson attend an exclusive screening of "Phantom Thread" on Jan. 27, 2018 in London, England.

David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty

The pair continued, “As a result Jonny and Paul Thomas Anderson have asked for it to be removed from the documentary.”**

Representatives for Universal Pictures, which distributed the film internationally, as well as Focus Features, which distributed the film stateside, did not immediately respond to EW’s request for comment.

Jimmy Kimmel calls out 'sus' box office for 'Melania' doc

White House holds private screening of Amazon's 'Melania' doc for guests including director Brett Ratner, Mike Tyson

Anderson wrote, produced, and directed the 2017 film, which starred Daniel Day-Lewis as a meticulous clothier who becomes inspired by a young waitress. Greenwood provided the score for the film, which was nominated for six Oscars. *Phantom Thread* won one Oscar, for Best Costume Design.**

Directed by Brett Ratner, *Melania* depicts the First Lady’s life in the 20 days before his re-election. The documentary, which holds an eight percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes, had a strong $7 million opening at the box office in its first weekend, but plummeted in its second. **

However, despite its initial success, the documentary is far from recouping at the box office, given that Amazon MGM Studios paid $40 million to acquire the film as well as a forthcoming docuseries on Donald Trump’s wife. The studio also paid an additional $35 million on the film’s promotion and marketing campaigns.

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Late-night hosts have also had a field day with the film, with Stephen Colbert saying that Amazon “bribed a whopping $40 million dollars for the movie” as a way to cozy up to the Trump administration.**

Jimmy Kimmel also called out the film’s “sus" box office numbers on his own program, noting how he didn’t understand "how this movie managed to sell $7 million worth of tickets" in its opening weekend, when almost every theater seemed to be empty leading up to the release."

Jonny Greenwood of the Smile performs during the Pitchfork Music Festival Day 1 at Union Park on July 21, 2023 in Chicago, Ill.

Barry Brecheisen/Getty

Kimmel added, "We need to get to the bottom of this. Send in Tulsi Gabbard and the FBI. Seize the ticket machines, the popcorn buckets, the box office receipts at every multiplex in America."

This isn't the first time that artists have called for their music to be removed from Trump family-related events and projects. Anderson and Greenwood join a sizeable list that includes artists like Queen, Nickelback, Rihanna, Neil Young, Steven Tyler, R.E.M., Adele, the Rolling Stones, Ozzy Osbourne, Tom Petty, Brendon Urie of Panic at the Disco, Linkin Park, Prince, Axl Rose, Celine Dion, Sinéad O’Connor, and more.

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Source: “EW Documentary”