Malia Obama, the daughter of former President Barack Obama, is in hot water over allegations of plagiarism in her debut Nike commercial.
See the tweet below.
The Harvard graduate is under fire for striking similarities between her commercial for Nike and independent filmmaker Natalie Jasmine Harris’s acclaimed Sundance short film.
Harris publicly called out Malia after noticing that Obama’s Nike commercial for basketball star A’ja Wilson contained scenes remarkably similar to Harris’s 2024 short film “Grace.”
Harris shared side-by-side stills on social media showing nearly identical camera angles, shot composition, and color palette between the two works.
The most controversial similarity involves a specific scene showing two young Black girls playing pat-a-cake on a stoop – a central and personally meaningful shot in Harris’s film that appears to be directly replicated in the Nike commercial.
Despite the glaring similarities, neither Malia Obama nor Nike has responded to the accusations of plagiarism.
While the former president’s daughter has attempted to distance herself from her family name by dropping “Obama” professionally to avoid being labeled a “nepo baby,” this controversy highlights how her privileged connections continue to benefit her career.
The 26-year-old appears to be following a familiar pattern of liberal elites who talk about supporting diversity while allegedly taking credit for others’ creative work.
“It’s devastating. I know art overlaps, but when you pour your heart into telling stories with care and barely get recognition, it stings,” Harris stated.
Harris and Obama notably met at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival, where both had projects in competition.
This fact raises questions about whether Obama had direct knowledge of Harris’s work before creating the Nike commercial.
Moreover, the Nike ad, promoting a sneaker called “The A’One,” debuted on May 6 and immediately drew criticism for its similarities to Harris’s independent film.
Harris clarified that her frustration is primarily with the industry’s preference for celebrity over true talent, not with Malia Obama personally.
New Director Malia Obama Accused of Plagiarism in New Nike Adhttps://t.co/SyifhC0RoP pic.twitter.com/4DAalRDH9u
— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) May 18, 2025
However, the incident has sparked heated debate online, with many Americans pointing out the hypocrisy of liberal elites who preach about uplifting marginalized voices while seemingly exploiting their work.
The filmmaker remarked:
“I know art often overlaps, but moments like this hit hard when you’ve poured your heart into telling stories with care and barely get the recognition you deserve. If brands want a certain look, why not hire from the source instead of for name recognition.”
This controversy comes as no surprise to conservatives who have long criticized the Obama family’s pattern of leveraging their political connections for personal gain after leaving the White House.
From multi-million dollar Netflix deals to lucrative book contracts and speaking engagements, the former First Family continues to build its empire while true independent voices struggle for recognition.
The Nike commercial controversy serves as yet another reminder of how the liberal elite in Hollywood and corporate America continue to reward connections over merit, all while lecturing everyday Americans about fairness and equality.
Harris eloquently stated in her criticism that this incident speaks to “a larger issue of brands not supporting independent artists and opting for folks who already have name recognition.”
