Jonny Greenwood and Paul Thomas Anderson request removal of ‘Phantom Thread’ music from Melania Trump documentary

Jonny Greenwood, guitarist for Radiohead and acclaimed film composer, along with director Paul Thomas Anderson, has requested the removal of music from their 2017 film ‘Phantom Thread’ from the Amazon documentary about Melania Trump. The piece in question, ‘Barbara Rose’, was used in the documentary directed by Brett Ratner without Greenwood’s consultation. Although Greenwood does not own the copyright to the score, his legal representatives argue that the film’s distributor, Universal, violated his composer agreement by allowing a third-party use of the music without approval. The documentary, which follows Melania Trump in the 20 days leading up to Donald Trump’s second inauguration, has generated $13.35 million domestically, surpassing initial box office expectations despite criticism. Reviewers, including The Independent’s Nick Hilton, have described the documentary as more staged entertainment than factual portrayal. The project also marks the return of Ratner, who has faced multiple sexual misconduct allegations in the past. Greenwood has increasingly focused on composing film scores, contributing to acclaimed works such as ‘There Will Be Blood’ and ‘Licorice Pizza’. ‘Phantom Thread’, for which he composed the music, was nominated for six Oscars, including Best Original Score.