Melania's Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score: A Bot-Free Zone?
The buzz around Melania Trump's documentary, 'Melania', has sparked a heated debate, with some questioning the authenticity of its glowing audience scores. The film, directed by Brett Ratner and released during her husband Donald's second presidential inauguration, has garnered a 99% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, a stark contrast to the 7% critics' score. This significant disparity has led to speculation about the involvement of MAGA-supported bots in inflating the audience score.
However, Versant, the parent company of Rotten Tomatoes, has vehemently denied any bot manipulation. They assert that the reviews displayed on the Popcornmeter are VERIFIED, meaning they have been confirmed as genuine by ticket purchases. This clarification comes as Jimmy Kimmel, during his monologue on February 4, raised eyebrows by suggesting a different narrative.
Kimmel humorously pointed out the discrepancy, stating that while the critics' score for 'Melania' is a mere 5%, the audience score is an impressive 99%, even surpassing 'The Godfather'. He playfully suggested that Donald J. Corleone had nothing to do with the positive audience response, adding a layer of comedic commentary. Kimmel's call for an investigation, involving Tulsi Gabbard and the FBI, to uncover the truth behind the scores, added fuel to the fire.
Rolling Stone further emphasized the controversy, stating that 'Melania' now holds the distinction of having the biggest disparity between critic and audience reviews in Rotten Tomatoes history. The documentary's opening weekend performance was notable, with a 72% female audience and 83% over the age of 45. PostTrak data revealed that nearly 75% of ticket buyers were white, indicating a specific demographic appeal.
Despite the speculation, Versant's stance and the verified nature of the audience reviews suggest that the scores are a genuine reflection of the film's popularity. The debate, however, continues, leaving audiences and critics alike to ponder the true reasons behind the contrasting scores.
