Indie Filmmaker Says Malia Obama’s Nike Ads Look a Lot Like Her Movie

Former First Daughter Malia Obama, now working professionally as Malia Ann, has found herself at the center of a creative controversy following the release of two Nike commercials she directed for WNBA star A’ja Wilson’s debut sneaker, the A’One.

The ads, which dropped on May 3, have drawn attention, ,not just for their artistic direction, but for their striking resemblance to a 2024 Sundance short film.

Independent filmmaker and NYU alum Natalie Jasmine Harris took to social media shortly after the ads premiered, alleging that Malia’s work closely mirrors elements of her own Sundance project titled GRACE. In a post shared on X (formerly Twitter), Harris wrote:

“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…”

Harris accompanied her post with side-by-side stills from both her film and Malia’s Nike ads, prompting a broader conversation about originality and opportunity in creative industries. She emphasized that while artistic overlap is common, the resemblance in this case felt too pointed to ignore.

“I know art often overlaps,” Harris continued, “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?”

Malia’s Nike commercials are part of a campaign celebrating A’ja Wilson’s South Carolina roots and journey to basketball superstardom. The ads blend powerful imagery with a nostalgic remix of the childhood chant Miss Mary Mack, underscoring themes of resilience, family, and community.

Shot in Columbia, South Carolina, the commercials feature a mix of stylized vignettes and real-life tributes to Wilson’s upbringing—including appearances from her parents, South Carolina Gamecocks coach Dawn Staley, local cheerleaders from Benedict College, and scenes filmed inside Saint John Baptist Church, where Wilson grew up.

This project adds to Malia’s growing filmography, which includes writing credits on Donald Glover’s Swarm and her own 2023 Sundance entry The Heart.

What’s Next?

A third ad, titled A’One From Day One, is scheduled to debut on May 9, and will feature interviews with residents of Columbia, further deepening the local storytelling approach of the campaign.

As of now, neither Nike nor Malia Ann has publicly responded to Harris’ allegations. The conversation, however, has reignited ongoing debates about equity, access, and representation in creative spaces—especially when independent filmmakers feel overshadowed by bigger names.