Malia Obama, daughter of former President Barack Obama, is facing accusations of plagiarism in May 2025. Independent filmmaker Natalie Jasmine Harris, 27, claims Obama's recent Nike commercial bears striking similarities to her short film, "Grace," released in 2024.
Harris alleges that the 60-second Nike ad, credited to Malia Ann (Obama's professional name), features scenes with "surprisingly similar" elements. The specific scene in question involves two Black girls playing a clapping game. The commercial was made for WNBA star A'ja Wilson's debut Nike sneaker, the A'One.
"It's not about the game," Harris told Business Insider. "It's about the cinematographic tools used to represent it." She cited numerous technical similarities, including camera angles, shots, framing composition, and color palette. Harris expressed her disappointment on X, stating, "It is devastating." Nike has not yet issued a public response. Malia Obama and A'ja Wilson have also remained silent.