Jeff Bezos has defended Amazon’s controversial Melania documentary as “a good business decision” while denying any personal involvement - because nothing says arm's-length corporate governance like paying $40 million for a film about a sitting president’s wife.

The Amazon founder and executive chairman was asked about the film during an interview on CNBC this week. The film, which followed the first lady in the period before Donald Trump’s second inauguration, was purchased by the company for $40m with Melania herself making a reported $28m. Amazon also spent around $35m on marketing.

Bezos, who also attended the inauguration, has refuted claims that he engineered the deal. “The Melania thing is a falsehood that will not die,” he said. The billionaire also added: “I see it reported all the time that somehow I was involved in this” but clarified that “I had nothing to do with that.”

Bezos said that it’s “just not correct” to say that buying the film was a way of currying favour with the administration but “I can see why people say this.” Yes, Jeff, we can all see why.

The film, directed by Brett Ratner who has been accused of sexual misconduct by multiple women, was released without being screened for press in January. It made $16.7m worldwide, failing to recoup its budget - unless you count the free advertising from all the controversy.

“By the way, it appears it was a good business decision,” Bezos said. “It did very well in theaters. It’s done very well on streaming. People are very curious about Melania. So even though I had nothing to do with it, it appears that the Amazon team made a very wise business decision.”

While the film did feature in Amazon’s in-house list of most-watched films upon streaming release, no data has been publicly released - perhaps because “very well” is a relative term when your baseline is a $40 million hole.

Amazon’s Melania deal was criticised by Elizabeth Warren, a Democratic senator, as being part of “an apparent pay-to-play arrangement with the Trump administration”. She added: “The fact that Amazon is seeking favorable treatment from the Trump administration while paying a far-above-market sum to produce and promote the Trump family’s film raises questions about Amazon’s exposure under federal anti-bribery law.”

In a response, Amazon denied any accusations of bribery, claiming the film had “cultural and historical relevance” - which is one way to describe a Brett Ratner documentary starring Melania Trump.

The Guardian’s Xan Brooks called the film “a gilded trash remake of Jonathan Glazer’s The Zone of Interest” in a zero star review. That’s a polite way of saying it’s not exactly Schindler’s List.

This month Ratner joined the president on his visit to China to scout locations for Rush Hour 4, the latest in his action comedy franchise. Trump reportedly intervened last year to ensure that Paramount would make the film. Because if there’s one thing this administration needs, it’s more action comedies.