Netflix’s Ted Sarandos Says Trump Didn’t Pitch Him on Melania Documentary, Continues to Defend Dave Chappelle
variety.comTodd Spangler NY Digital Editor Ted Sarandos, co-CEO of Netflix, met with Donald Trump in December at the then-President-elect’s Mar-a-Lago compound in Florida.
But according to Sarandos, the two didn’t “talk shop.” The Netflix boss, speaking Friday at the Paley Media Council event “Beyond the Stream: A Conversation with Ted Sarandos” in New York City, said it was the first time he met Trump. “We had a nice long dinner together,” he said.
Asked by interviewer Ben Smith, editor in chief of Semafor, whether Trump tried to sell Sarandos on the documentary featuring his third wife, Melania — the rights to which were acquired by Amazon — Sarandos said, no, Trump did not.
Is Trump a fan of Netflix? “He said Melania and [son] Barron were big fans,” Sarandos said. Meanwhile, Smith continued, did Amazon “overpay” for the Melania doc? (Amazon is reportedly shelling out $40 million for the film and docu-series about the First Lady.) Sarandos said he didn’t know. “I haven’t seen it,” the Netflix chief said.
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