Malia Obama is facing accusations from independent filmmaker Natalie Jasmine Harris, who alleges that Obama's recent Nike advertisement featuring WNBA star A’ja Wilson borrowed heavily from Harris’s own creative work without acknowledgment. Harris detailed her claims in a Business Insider essay published on May 16, highlighting similarities between the Nike ad and her award-winning short film, "Grace."

Harris's 14-minute film, described as a "Black Southern Gothic short," tells the story of a girl being baptized and navigating complex feelings toward her best friend. Harris encountered Obama at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival, where both filmmakers were competing. After viewing the Nike advertisement, Harris was shocked by the resemblance to her own cinematography, prompting her to create a shot-by-shot photo comparison.

Central to Harris’s allegations is not the narrative content but the specific cinematic elements utilized, including camera angles, shot framing, composition, and color palettes. "It isn’t necessarily the action happening on film," Harris clarified, "it’s the cinematic tools used to depict it."

Legal opinions may differ on whether such cinematic elements can be subject to plagiarism claims. Generally, copyright law protects specific, original expressions of ideas but not the underlying ideas themselves. Elements such as camera angles, shot framing, and color palettes are typically considered stylistic choices rather than protected expressions. Courts often examine whether there has been substantial similarity in protectable elements and whether those elements are original and unique enough to merit protection. Legal precedent suggests that mere similarities in style or technique, unless highly distinctive or uniquely arranged, may not constitute copyright infringement.

Plagiarism or not, this incident underscores broader industry concerns expressed by Harris, particularly around the limited support major brands provide independent filmmakers. "Brands [opt] for folks who already have name recognition," Harris argued, claiming such practices hinder innovation and originality in filmmaking. "If they wanted these shots that were similar to my shots, why not hire me to direct?” she questioned.

Yahoo! News reported that public response to Harris’s claims has varied significantly. After sharing her comparative visuals on social media platform X on May 5, reactions ranged from supportive to skeptical. One user empathized, writing, "This is obviously the worst feeling, so I’m hoping you feel supported in standing up for your work." Another commenter provided balanced feedback, recognizing the merit of Harris’s film but suggesting similarities could equally be drawn from classic films like "The Color Purple" or "Daughters of the Dust."

Yet another user strongly contested Harris’s allegations, dismissing any meaningful resemblance. "That scene is literally 15 seconds of your 13-minute short," they noted. "How did she steal a scene when we have been playing patty cake for 100 years? Nothing in that commercial is similar to your short."

Harris has not yet received any formal communication from either Obama or Nike following her public claims, but stated that she seeks "some acknowledgment" moving forward.