Disgraced Director Brett Ratner’s ‘Melania’ Doc Is An Insult To Survivors Demanding Epstein Files Release
For Immediate Release: January 29, 2026
Contact: media@fwdshift.com
Disgraced Director Brett Ratner’s ‘Melania’ Doc Is An Insult To Survivors Demanding Epstein Files Release
Rather than release the Epstein Files, Trump and his abuser buddies have instead chosen to release a vanity project wanted by no one.
UltraViolet Action, a leading national women-led gender-justice organization responsible for numerous impactful victories against sexual predators like Harvey Weinstein, R Kelly, and Bill O’Reilly, released the following statement on the day of the premiere of disgraced director Brett Ratner’s documentary about Melania Trump:
“As millions of Americans and thousands of Epstein survivors continue to demand the full release of the Epstein files, Trump and his abuser buddies have instead chosen to release a vanity project wanted by no one,” said Elisa Batista, Campaign Director at UltraViolet Action. “This documentary is the latest insult to survivors and a further stain on an administration that continuously bends over backwards to protect abusers.”
The documentary’s director, Brett Ratner, was effectively cast out of Hollywood in shame nearly a decade ago after being accused of sexual abuse by at least six women. But with the election of Donald Trump, himself found liable for the sexual abuse of the journalist E. Jean Carroll in 1996, the door to a comeback opened. Ratner, like Trump, appeared in the Epstein files, where the director was pictured embracing Jean-Luc Brunel, a French model scout and close Epstein associate who committed suicide in prison before he could face charges of rape and sex trafficking of minors.
Though Ratner has not been accused of wrongdoing related to Epstein—who at the time of his death faced charges for serial sexual predation, abuse, and criminal networks—his being enlisted to direct the ‘Melania’ documentary remains an insult to survivors demanding transparency and accountability for Epstein’s child abuse network.
Less than 1% of the Epstein files have been released, which is a flagrant violation of the Epstein Files Transparency Act. Nonetheless, the small percentage of the documents released to the public already contain images and/or mentions of Ratner and Trump.
“Just like when they refused to fully release the Epstein files by the legal deadline, the Trump administration is yet again attempting to undo the sacrifice of survivors who came forward to demand transparency and accountability,” said Batista. “They’re banking on distraction and our disengagement, but we are here to say it won’t work. Survivors will continue to keep alive this campaign for accountability and transparency.”
For decades, survivors raised the alarm on Epstein’s pedophile ring, which trafficked and abused at least 1,000 women–many who were girls at the time of the abuse–as well as the lengthy list of high-profile elites who participated in, enabled, and failed to report this rampant abuse. MAGA political leaders used Epstein’s horrific crimes to rile up their base—treating survivors as political footballs—before trying to bury his awful legacy altogether following the release of private emails alleging Trump himself was all over the Epstein files. On December 19, 2025, the Department of Justice failed to meet the deadline to fully release the Epstein files as required by law under the Epstein Files Transparency Act.
UltraViolet Action has been a leader in the movement to hold Epstein’s network accountable, publicly fighting for the release of the Epstein files while also demanding the resignation of U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi for her role in protecting abusers.
“Powerful abuse networks aren’t just the stuff of movies, they’re a reality,” said Batista. “Every day Trump chooses to support accused abusers and continue to hide the Epstein files is another day justice is denied. We call on this administration to stop with the frivolous distractions and release the Epstein files in their entirety.”
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UltraViolet Action works directly to mobilize constituents and lawmakers and is a 501(c)(4) organization working to change sexist policies, practices, and beliefs.
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