Stepping out from her famous folks’ shadow, Barack Obama’s daughter Malia Ann Obama kicks off her directorial journey with a short film called The Heart, using a stage name for the gig. She’s all about blazing her own trail in the movie scene, aiming to be acknowledged for her talent, not just her last name.
This savvy move shows she’s dead set on building her identity, dodging the whole Nepo Baby label. But the real question is, does it actually shake off that tag or add a new layer to the mix?
Barack Obama’s Daughter Adopts Stage Name To Evade Nepo Baby Label
Malia Ann Obama is jumping into the film scene with her first shot at directing, and guess what? She’s using a stage name! But here’s the scoop: Some folks are saying she’s only getting this chance because of her famous parents. Using her stage name didn’t really squash those doubts.
At the Sundance Film Festival on Jan. 18, Ann Obama, daughter of former President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama, showcased her short film, The Heart. She wrote and directed it herself.
Even though she went by Malia Ann this time, some people are still wondering if her movie would’ve made it to Sundance without her famous family ties. But hey, the 25-year-old went with Malia Ann for this one. That’s her call!
So, what’s The Heart about, you ask? Well, it’s an 18-minute flick following a guy named Joshua dealing with some heavy guilt after a spat with his mom leads to her passing. (As per the New York Post), Ann Obama describes it as,
“An odd little story, somewhat of fable, about a man grieving the death of his mother after she leaves him an unusual request in her will.”
The Harvard graduate is hoping her movie brings folks some comfort and reminds them to appreciate the people in their lives. But you know how it is. Some folks aren’t fully on board. Luckily, Whoopi Goldberg has Ann Obama’s back, supporting her choice to drop the Obama name.
It’s all part of her journey into the filmmaking world, and she’s not letting the critics get her down!
Whoopi Goldberg Supports Malia Obama’s Choice To Omit Her Last Name
On a recent episode of The View, Goldberg backed Obama’s choice to go by Malia Ann instead of using her full last name. Whoopi Goldberg could relate to her situation and chuckled at the fuss over the name change.
She firmly stated that Obama had every right to call herself whatever she wanted, whether it’s in her directorial debut or any other aspect of her life. Whoopi even joked,
“She knows she’s an Obama, why do you care? Why do you care what she calls herself? If she wanted to call herself Jeanette McDonald, she has the right to! If I can be Whoopi Goldberg, she can be whoever the hell she wants to be.”
However, critics were quick to point out that just changing her name wouldn’t change Obama’s connection to her influential parents. Whether she’s known as Malia Obama or Malia Ann, her family name will always carry weight.
By supporting Obama’s choice, Goldbergopi emphasizes the importance of individuals taking charge of their own stories, no matter their background.
This moment of solidarity highlights the complexities of fame, identity, and independence, especially when you’re in the public eye.
