Amazon Layoff Fury As Bezos Burns Millions On Melania Movie Tipped To Flop

Amazon is facing a storm of anger after announcing sweeping job cuts at the same time as revelations about its costly investment on a Melania Trump documentary. The timing has fuelled fury among workers, investors, and critics who question how thousands can lose their jobs while millions are poured into a film widely tipped to underperform.

The controversy has become a lightning rod for wider anger about corporate priorities. Yes, Amazon has cut deep, and yes, its leadership is now under fire for where the money appears to be going.

Amazon Confirms Mass Layoffs Across Its Workforce

On Wednesday, the Seattle-based tech giant confirmed it is eliminating around 16,000 roles worldwide. The cuts come as part of a broader effort to reduce bureaucracy and streamline operations in what Amazon describes as a rapidly changing global economy. With a workforce of roughly 1.5 million, the company says the layoffs are necessary to remain competitive.

The announcement followed an embarrassing mishap the day before, when some employees received an internal email referencing the layoffs before they were officially informed.

Amazon later confirmed the message was sent in error. In a blog post, senior vice president Beth Galetti said the cuts would affect roles across the organisation, though she did not specify which divisions would be hit hardest.

Galetti added that most US-based employees impacted by the cuts would be given 90 days to apply for other internal roles. Despite this reassurance, the scale of the layoffs has rattled staff, particularly as similar job losses sweep through the tech sector.

Job Losses Hit Communities As Stores Shut Down

The impact is already being felt at a local level. In New Jersey alone, filings show more than eight hundred roles are being cut across multiple Amazon sites. The layoffs come alongside plans to shut Amazon Fresh supermarkets and Amazon Go convenience stores nationwide.

In New Jersey, closures include locations in Paramus, Lodi, Eatontown, and Woodland Park. Workers at these sites now face uncertainty as Amazon pulls back from its bricks and mortar retail ambitions.

Critics argue the company expanded too aggressively and is now asking employees to pay the price for strategic missteps.

The cuts place Amazon alongside other major firms slashing staff this week, including Nike, Pinterest, and UPS, adding to a growing sense that corporate America is tightening belts at the expense of workers.

Millions Spent On Melania Film Sparks Anger

What has truly inflamed opinion is news of Amazon MGM Studios' spending on a documentary centred on Melania Trump. Reports indicate Amazon paid roughly $40 million (approximately £32 million) for distribution rights, with a further $35 million (approximately £28 million) spent on marketing. That puts total investment at around $75 million dollars (approximately £59 million).

Industry insiders expect the film to earn only a fraction of that amount, with projections suggesting an opening weekend of between $3 million and $5 million (approximately £2 million and £4 million). Critics have seized on the contrast, pointing out that thousands of workers are being laid off while Amazon bankrolls a prestige political documentary with limited commercial appeal.

The anger intensified after reports that access to the film's Washington premiere was tightly controlled. Mainstream media outlets were allowed on the red carpet but barred from the screening itself, while select right-leaning figures were granted entry. The move sparked accusations of media bias and added another layer of controversy to the project.

Bezos And Amazon Face Mounting Backlash

Although Jeff Bezos has not commented directly, the backlash has been fierce. Online critics accuse Amazon leadership of losing touch with its workforce and prioritising political vanity projects over jobs. Shareholders are also questioning the logic of cutting headcount while approving such a costly film deal.

President Donald Trump, speaking at the premiere, said he was not involved in Amazon's decision to fund the documentary, adding that the project was handled by his wife and calling it important. Amazon has declined to comment further on the spending or the criticism surrounding it.

For many observers, the issue is not just the layoffs or the film, but what the two together symbolise. At a time when workers are told sacrifices are necessary, Amazon's spending choices have become a lightning rod for wider anger about corporate priorities.

The fury is unlikely to fade quickly. As layoffs continue and the Melania documentary heads towards release, Amazon now finds itself defending not just its balance sheet, but its values.