Malia Obama and Aja Wilson (Photo via Twitter)
Malia Obama is quickly making a name for herself in the creative world, stepping behind the camera with some major projects. The former First Daughter has been steadily carving out her own path in film and media, earning praise for her fresh perspective and storytelling skills.
Her latest project caught a lot of attention — and sparked some controversy. Obama directed Nike’s newest commercial for WNBA star A’ja Wilson’s signature shoe, marking another major milestone in her young directing career. But soon after the ad dropped, allegations of creative similarities to another filmmaker’s work began to swirl online.
Malia Obama, the daughter of former President Barack Obama, directed Nike’s latest commercial for A’ja Wilson’s new signature shoe, the “A’One.”
The commercial, titled “Teaching the pro,” features a young girl teaching Wilson a nursery rhyme adapted for the basketball star.
In Obama’s commercial, a young girl is seen sitting on a stoop, teaching Wilson “Miss Mary Mack.”
“Real ones get their own shoe and their own rhyme. 👏The A’One drops May 6 in SNKRS,” Nike said as the caption for the ad released on social media.
Something about the start of that commercial looked strikingly similar to a video that was already created.
Natalie Jasmine Harris, a notable filmmaker, is now calling out Malia Obama’s commercial because it looks way too similar to what she released at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival.
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The 26-year-old says Obama’s Nike commercial is “shockingly similar” to her 2024 film, Grace.
As mentioned above, Obama’s commercial features a young girl teaching Wilson “Miss Mary Mack,” while “Grace” has two characters playing a similar game while sitting on a small staircase leading to a home’s front door.
Been sitting with this for a while. My Sundance short film GRACE (shot brilliantly by Tehillah de Castro) was made with deep love and care. The social cut of the new @Nike commercial directed by Malia Obama (who was also at Sundance my year) feels shockingly similar to my work… pic.twitter.com/iy2N2krpQN
— Natalie Jasmine Harris (@nataliejharris) May 6, 2025
“Been sitting with this for a while. My Sundance short film GRACE (shot brilliantly by Tehillah de Castro) was made with deep love and care. The social cut of the new @Nike commercial directed by Malia Obama (who was also at Sundance my year) feels shockingly similar to my work…,” she wrote.
“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?”
Harris added that she was deeply disappointed.
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? @Nike @_ajawilson22 pic.twitter.com/Y57ACZiPRe
— Natalie Jasmine Harris (@nataliejharris) May 6, 2025
“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,” she said, “and then to see this just really gives me even less hope that this industry wants me to be here.”
Will Malia Obama or Nike Respond?
11/4/08 10:58:03 PM — Chicago, IL, U.S.A — Democratic Presidential candidate Illinois Senator Barack Obama celebrates his victory over Republican nominee John McCain with his wife Michelle Obama and daughters Sasha and Malia Obama during election night victory celebration at Chicago’s Grant Park. — Photo by Jack Gruber, USA TODAY Staff ORG XMIT: JG 35342 11/3/2008 (Via MerlinFTP Drop)
Malia Obama is checking off more milestones on her resume after the eldest daughter of former president Barack Obama and Michelle Obama stepped behind the camera to direct basketball star A’ja Wilson’s latest Nike commercial.
Malia’s latest credit comes more than a year after the 26-year-old made her directorial debut with her short film The Heart.
Unfortunately for her, it appears her inspiration for the film may have come from somewhere else.
Natalie Jasmine Harris, a notable filmmaker, accused the commercial of being similar to her film made in 2024.
Whether Malia Obama or Nike responds remains to be seen.
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