Former President Barack Obama is 100% supportive of his daughter Malia making films under a professional name.
It was reported earlier this year that Malia Obama, 26, dropped her famous last name in the credits for “The Heart,” a short film that marks her directorial debut. “The Heart” was screened at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival, where the director was credited as “Malia Ann” ― a moniker taken from her first and middle names.
Malia also wrote “The Heart,” after previously writing for Prime Video’s “Swarm” alongside actor and musician Donald Glover.
In a new interview on the podcast “The Pivot,” the former president — who shares Malia and her sister, Sasha, 23, with former first lady Michelle Obama — offered his take on his eldest child’s decision.
“The challenge for us is letting us give them any help at all,” Obama said during the Oct. 29 episode. “I mean, they’re very sensitive about this stuff. They’re very stubborn about it.”
The former president said he advised Malia that people would still know they were related, despite her using a different name professionally.
“I was all like, ‘You do know they’ll know who you are,’” Obama recalled. “And she’s all like, ‘You know what? I want them to watch it that first time and not in any way have that association.’ So I think our daughters go out of their way to not try to leverage that.”
The proud dad then gushed about Malia being in “all these fancy film festivals.”
Barack and Michelle Obama have also gotten involved in the Hollywood realm with their company Higher Ground Productions, which has produced hit films like Netflix’s “Leave the World Behind” and “Rustin.” (Perhaps inevitably, Malia has faced accusations of being a nepo baby since entering the industry herself.)
On “The Pivot,” the former president told hosts Channing Crowder, Fred Taylor and Ryan Clark about how his mother-in-law helped raise his daughters, and that “everybody was on watch to make sure that they both had a normal childhood, and that they did not feel as if they got something that they hadn’t earned.”
Your Support Has Never Been More Critical
Other news outlets have retreated behind paywalls. At HuffPost, we believe journalism should be free for everyone.
Would you help us provide essential information to our readers during this critical time? We can't do it without you.
Can't afford to contribute? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
You've supported HuffPost before, and we'll be honest — we could use your help again. We view our mission to provide free, fair news as critically important in this crucial moment, and we can't do it without you.
Whether you give once or many more times, we appreciate your contribution to keeping our journalism free for all.
You've supported HuffPost before, and we'll be honest — we could use your help again. We view our mission to provide free, fair news as critically important in this crucial moment, and we can't do it without you.
Whether you give just one more time or sign up again to contribute regularly, we appreciate you playing a part in keeping our journalism free for all.
Support HuffPost
Already contributed? Log in to hide these messages.
“They’ve turned out amazing,” Obama added of his daughters with a smile. “I can’t brag about them enough.”
Watch Obama’s interview below.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25758128/Samsung_Galaxy_S25_Ultra_video_leak.jpg)
English (US) ·