Allegations of Artistic Overlap Emerge
Malia Obama, daughter of former President Barack Obama, is facing scrutiny over her recent Nike commercial, with allegations that it closely mirrors the work of an independent filmmaker.
The spotlight is on a scene in the ad where two young Black girls clap hands rhythmically on a porch — a moment that filmmaker Natalie Jasmine Harris says bears an uncanny resemblance to a scene from her 2024 short film Grace.
The Filmmaker Speaks Out
Harris, a New York University graduate and Sundance alumna, took to social media to share her concerns, citing:
- Composition
- Camera angles
- Color grading
All of which she claims are “shockingly similar” to her original work.
Malia directed the new Nike ad for WNBA star A’ja Wilson’s pink A’One signature shoe.
Harris posted a follow-up on Instagram the next day, echoing what she had said in her original X update and sharing more stills from both projects and a photo of her and Obama from Sundance last year.
“I don’t have much else to say, besides that this is quite disheartening and disappointing,” she wrote in the post caption. “I’m constantly posting about how difficult it is to be an emerging filmmaker right now and sustain myself without benefitting from family connections, generational wealth, or nepotism… and then to see this just really gives me even less hope that this industry wants me to be here.”
The emerging filmmaker later followed up to criticize those who were quick to judge her online.
“I just want to make it abundantly clear that this is not an issue about a game of Pat-A-Cake. It’s the framing, composition, editing, etc. Cinematic choices that are uncannily similar to the visual language in my short film. Before you are so quick to comment, please put your thinking caps on. Why would I say something that in turn probably does put my career at risk to try and say that I invented a hand game? Come on y’all….”
The Benefits of Nepotism?
Harris and Obama both showcased their films at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival, where they reportedly met. Harris emphasized that her frustration is not exclusively directed at Obama but highlights a broader industry issue where emerging artists often feel overshadowed by individuals with prominent family names.
As of this article’s publication, neither Nike nor Malia Obama has publicly responded to the allegations.
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Did you not know that anything illegal is legal for liberals and illegal for everyone else? Shame on you!
It looks shockingly similar to “The Color Purple” too. Lots of plagiarism going on.