Malia Obama accused of copying filmaker for Nike commercial

[the artist]

Malia Obama accused of copying indie filmmaker for Nike commercial: ‘Shockingly similar’

Malia Obama is being accused of copying an indie filmmaker’s work for her Nike commercial released earlier this month — the first ad the former president’s daughter has directed.

nypost.com

Malia Obama is being accused of copying an indie filmmaker’s work for her Nike commercial released earlier this month — the first ad the former president’s daughter has directed.

Natalie Jasmine Harris, 27, said Obama’s one-minute commercial had scenes that were “shockingly similar” to her own 2024 short film “Grace.”

The scene in question is one in which two young Black girls play pat-a-cake.

It’s not about the game,” Harris noted to Business Insider. “It’s about the cinematic tools used to depict it.”

Harris said there were a lot of technical similarities — from the camera angles to the shots to the framing composition and the color palette.

“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,” she posted on X.

 

[SPECTRE1]

They do this all the time to me, it has gone down recently.

I should post some of things out there exposing them. Disney is notorious for doing this.

I am going to use their NIL to promote my products.

 

[cocobeauty]

That scene is any black girls USA. If not that, it’s giving Color Purple vibes.

That is a natural thing in the black community, I feel it’s a reach, even from talking about the angels, etc.

 

[SPECTRE1]

They creep me out that whole family, along with the Biden clan.

 

[Kemo07]

She’s saying Nike, a multinational shoe company, hired Malia Obama for name recognition

 

[TENT]

A 26-year-old filmmaker has a bone to pick with Malia Obama ... seemingly claiming the former first daughter used one of her works as inspiration for a new Nike ad -- without properly crediting her.

Natalie Jasmine Harris said Monday the A'ja Wilson vignette that Obama and Nike released this month to promote the hooper's new signature shoe is "shockingly similar" to NJH's 2024 Sundance Film Festival flick, "Grace."

POTENTIAL SIMILARITIESNike/Field of Jasmine Films
In the Obama-Wilson piece, a young girl can be seen teaching the WNBA superstar her version of "Miss Mary Mack" while on a stoop of a home. In "Grace," two of the characters play a similar game with their hands as they sit on a small staircase leading to a house's front door.

Harris made it clear in a series of social media posts she doesn't believe the lookalike imagery is a coincidence -- especially considering she and Obama at one point linked up during the '24 Sundance event in Utah.

Getty Composite
"I know art often overlaps," she wrote on her X page, "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," she added, "why not hire from the source instead of for name recognition?"

Harris later took to her Instagram to explain the whole situation was "disheartening and disappointing."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." We've reached out to Nike for comment, but so far, we've yet to hear back.



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Nike Ads (two part ad, important to watch both for the full context though Malia only directed the second one)



Natalie Jasmine Harris' short film (timestamps: doorstep - 1:15-1:45, doorway - 8:49-8:59)


Link to TMZ's video comparison

https://www.tmz.com/watch/nike-ad-grace-short-film-05-06-2025/

 

[blackbull1970]

I have similar scenes in Black films and TV shows prior to both of them using it.

It’s like showing a scene showing a group of Black men playing basketball in a inner city school yard playground.

 

[Non-StopJFK2TAB]

She's a thief just like her mama, Michelle. I remember when Michelle stole from Malania. And her daddy stole the country.

 

[Helico-pterFunk]

Obamas accused of stealing for woke production in new family crisis

Natalie Jasmine Harris shared stills from her film alongside shots from a commercial featuring A'ja Wilson that depicted similar images of girls playing the game pat-a-cake on a stoop.

www.dailymail.co.uk

 

[Helico-pterFunk]

Opinion | New Nike ads are love letters to Black girls from A'ja Wilson

The WNBA’s superstar's story and the new ad for her signature shoe reveal how much the world still needs to make room for Black girls’ joy and brilliance and power.

www.msnbc.com

Obama's daughter accused of copying indie creator's short film: 'I was disappointed and hurt' - Times of India

US News: Indie filmmaker Natalie Jasmine Harris has accused former president Barack Obama's daughter Malia of copying her short film Grace in her Nike advertis.

timesofindia.indiatimes.com

 

[ghoststrike]

Interesting comments section. A number of MAGA turds agreeing with her in the comments because they hate that there was a Black president. Of course. Then there are numerous Black users mentioning that both were inspired by the Color Purple shots.

So, anyways, is she suing or simply bitching about it on Elon's X?