Filmmaker Kelley Kali Harris has accused Malia Obama, daughter of former President Barack Obama, of replicating a scene from her short film in a Nike commercial.
Harris shared side-by-side stills from her film, 'Grace,' and the Nike commercial featuring WNBA star A'ja Wilson, highlighting striking similarities. Both clips depict young Black girls playing pat-a-cake on a stoop, a scene Harris claims closely mirrors a key moment from her 2024 film.
Harris expressed her frustration on X, stating, "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." She also questioned why brands don't hire directly from independent artists instead of relying on established names.
Harris emphasized that her issue isn't with Malia personally, but with the industry's tendency to favor established names over supporting independent artists. She met Malia at the Sundance Film Festival last year, where both presented their films.
Malia Obama previously dropped her surname to avoid nepotism accusations, according to The New York Post.