Malia Obama Accused of Copying Visual Elements from Independent Filmmaker
Malia Obama, daughter of former President Barack Obama, is facing allegations from an independent filmmaker who claims the former president’s daughter copied visual elements from her work for a recent Nike commercial.
The commercial, which stars WNBA athlete A’ja Wilson, marked Malia Obama’s directorial debut in the advertising world.
It was released earlier this month as part of Nike’s campaign focused on the power and presence of women athletes.
Natalie Jasmine Harris, a filmmaker known in the indie circuit, accused Obama of replicating a scene from her 2024 short film titled Grace.
Harris alleges that a key visual moment in Obama’s Nike commercial strongly resembles a scene from her own project.
Harris’s short film includes a scene where two young Black girls play pat-a-cake in slow motion, capturing a sense of nostalgia and innocence.
She claims that Obama’s commercial includes a nearly identical setup, with similar choreography, lighting, framing, and color tones.
According to Harris, the commercial did more than simply echo a mood—it directly copied the shot structure and visual storytelling that she developed independently. She claims these creative decisions were replicated without credit or acknowledgment.
The two directors previously crossed paths at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival, per Trending Politics.
Harris’s Grace and Obama’s short film The Heart were both featured in the festival’s lineup, which showcased emerging talent in the industry, per Trending Politics.
Harris said she recognized the resemblance to her work while watching the Nike ad on social media.
She stated that she had to re-watch the scene several times to process the similarities.
She later shared a side-by-side visual comparison on Instagram, presenting stills from her film and the Nike commercial.
The comparison quickly drew attention online and reignited discussion about creative ownership and recognition in the film industry.
Harris stated that while she does not believe Obama set out to intentionally plagiarize her work, she feels frustrated that larger platforms often overlook lesser-known creators. She pointed to systemic issues in the industry that prioritize fame and connections over originality.
The filmmaker said her intention was not to publicly shame Obama, but to highlight how difficult it can be for emerging artists to protect their creative contributions. She emphasized that the situation reflects broader industry patterns rather than a personal grievance.
Harris also used the moment to spotlight her ongoing financial struggles as an independent artist.
She mentioned that despite having critical success, she has faced job insecurity and had to move back in with her family in Maryland after living in New York City.
In December 2024, Harris launched a GoFundMe campaign to raise funds for her creative work.
She re-shared the campaign following the viral comparisons, hoping to garner support from those who appreciated her original material.
Harris is best known for her thesis film Pure, which was acquired by HBO. She has also directed commercials for national brands including Hyundai and Verizon.
As of now, neither Malia Obama nor Nike has responded publicly to the allegations. There has been no official statement or legal action announced in connection with the dispute.
The situation has stirred debate about creative credit, power dynamics in media, and the challenges faced by lesser-known filmmakers when their work is allegedly used by more prominent figures.
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