Overview

• Natalie Jasmine Harris alleges Malia Obama's Nike commercial closely mirrors her 2024 Sundance short film, 'Grace,' in both imagery and cinematic techniques.
• Harris highlights specific similarities, including young Black girls playing pat-a-cake on a stoop, and parallels in camera angles, framing, and color palette.
• The allegations gained traction after Harris shared side-by-side comparisons on social media and detailed her concerns in a Business Insider essay.
• Harris and Obama met at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival, where both had films competing, raising further questions about potential influence.
• Neither Nike nor Obama has addressed the allegations, as public debate continues over originality and the challenges faced by independent filmmakers.