US EditionBarack Obama's Daughter Malia Accused Of Plagiarising Indie Film For Nike Commercial
- Malia Obama directed a Nike commercial released in 2025 that features scenes similar to Natalie Jasmine Harris's 2024 indie short film Grace.
- Harris, a 27-year-old filmmaker whose short Grace screened at Sundance, publicly accused Obama on May 12, 2025, of copying her pat-a-cake scene and cinematic techniques.
- Harris highlighted that the commercial's framing, camera angles, and pacing closely resemble her work and criticized brands for prioritizing name recognition over independent artists.
- Harris stated, "It's devastating," and emphasized, "This is about much more than just pat-a-cake," illustrating the emotional impact of the alleged appropriation.
- The controversy underlines tensions in the industry about intellectual property and support for emerging filmmakers, suggesting brands may overlook original artists for established names.
14 Articles
14 Articles
Malia Obama Smeared Over "Plagiarism" - But Then Natalie Jasmine Harris Lifted Scene from "The Color Purple" - Showbiz411
Lots of headlines this morning. “Malia Obama plagiarizes indie filmmaker!” Natalie Jasmine Harris complaining that Malia used a patty-cake scene from “Grace,” her indie short for a Nike commercial. But if Malia stole from Harris, then Harris stole from “The Color Purple.” The 1985 Steven Spielberg classic featured a famous scene of Celie and her […] The post Malia Obama Smeared Over “Plagiarism” — But Then Natalie Jasmine Harris Lifted Scene fro…
Malia Obama Accused Of Copying Indie Filmmaker In New Nike Commercial
Malia Obama is being accused of copying an indie filmmaker’s work for her newly released Nike commercial, which premiered earlier this month. The project marks the first ad former President Obama’s daughter has directed. Natalie Jasmine Harris, 27, said Obama’s one-minute production included scenes that were “shockingly similar” to her own short film “Grace,” which was released in 2024. In an essay published with Business Insider, Harris stated …
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