*Malia Obama is making headlines with her latest creative venture, a Nike campaign spotlighting WNBA star A’ja Wilson and her debut signature sneaker, the A’One.
Directed by the 26-year-old under her professional name, Malia Ann, the ad has been widely praised for its vibrant celebration of Black culture, community, and athletic excellence. But alongside acclaim, the project is now facing claims of unoriginality.
As HBCU Gameday reports, the campaign, which launched ahead of the A’One’s May 6 release, highlights Wilson’s South Carolina roots, her family legacy at Benedict College, and the culture of historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs). Dancers from Benedict bring electric energy to the commercial, capturing the rhythm and identity of HBCU life, a theme made deeply personal by the inclusion of Wilson’s father, Roscoe, a former Benedict College athlete.
However, not everyone is applauding the campaign without reservation. Indie filmmaker Natalie Jasmine Harris publicly accused Obama of borrowing heavily from her 2024 short film “Grace,” which debuted at Sundance the same year as Obama’s “The Heart.” In a tweet, Harris posted side-by-side images from her film and Obama’s Nike ad, writing, “Been sitting with this for a while… the new @Nike commercial directed by Malia Obama feels shockingly similar to my work.”
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Harris, an NYU graduate, suggested that Wilson and Nike could have hired her directly rather than someone “with name recognition.” While similarities between the projects could be coincidental, the controversy adds a complicated layer to Obama’s debut.
“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?” Harris noted in a follow-up tweet.
Even so, the Nike campaign remains a bold artistic statement, one that amplifies voices tied to HBCU pride, generational legacy, and Black excellence. The conversation around it underscores how impactful representation continues to be in sports and storytelling.
Meanwhile, Harris shared the link to watch her movie “Grace” – see below.
Here’s the link to watch my short film GRACE on Vimeo for anyone interested ? https://t.co/PXCZvHUf0R
— Natalie Jasmine Harris (@nataliejharris) May 6, 2025
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