Malia Obama’s Nike Ad Ignites Plagiarism Claims from Independent Director [WATCH]

Former First Daughter Malia Obama is under scrutiny from independent filmmaker Natalie Jasmine Harris, who claims that Obama’s recently released Nike commercial closely resembles scenes from Harris’s 2024 short film Grace.

Harris, 27, spoke with Business Insider to raise concerns over the similarities between Obama’s directorial debut and her own work.

The Nike commercial, released earlier this month, is Obama’s first film project for a major brand and features a series of stylized vignettes centered on young Black girls in a sports setting.

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“It’s not about the game,” Harris said in her interview.

“It’s about the cinematic tools used to depict it.”

According to Harris, several moments in the ad share nearly identical technical characteristics with scenes from Grace, including camera angles, shot composition, and color grading.

Harris pointed specifically to a scene in the Nike ad showing two young Black girls playing Pat-A-Cake — a moment she says directly echoes a central and deeply personal scene from her own film.

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

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Harris shared a side-by-side comparison of the two scenes on social media platform X, captioning the post: “It’s devastating.”

I’m just going to leave this here.

This is my indie short film, “Grace,” next to Malia Obama’s @Nike x @_ajawilson22 commercial

It’s devastating, but at least you can (hopefully) see that this is about much more than just pat-a-cake…. pic.twitter.com/71m0H5n84z

— Natalie Jasmine Harris (@nataliejharris) May 12, 2025

She added that her frustration is not directed at Obama personally but rather at what she views as a recurring issue in the film industry — established names being prioritized over lesser-known creators.

“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,” Harris wrote.

“If brands want a certain look, why not hire from the source instead of for name recognition?”

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

She also said the situation underscores a broader issue in the entertainment and advertising world, where large corporations routinely tap high-profile figures — especially those with political or celebrity backgrounds — instead of giving opportunities to emerging talent with original ideas.

“It speaks to a larger issue of brands not supporting independent artists and opting for folks who already have name recognition, which doesn’t breed innovative films or original storytelling,” Harris added.

Obama and Harris have met before.

The two filmmakers crossed paths at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival, where both were showcasing projects.

The festival marked Obama’s official red-carpet debut as a filmmaker.

At the time, she also announced her decision to drop the “Obama” surname from her professional credits, saying she hoped to avoid being labeled a “nepo baby.”

As of this report, Nike has not issued a public response to the allegations, nor has Obama commented on Harris’s claims.

Harris’s short film Grace received critical attention on the festival circuit earlier this year, with praise for its visual storytelling and emotional narrative centered on Black girlhood.

The film has been featured in several independent film showcases and is currently available through select online streaming platforms.

The Nike ad directed by Obama continues to air on digital platforms as part of a broader campaign aimed at celebrating the spirit of youth sports.

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