Barack Obama reacts to daughter's decision to drop surname and debut as 'Malia Ann' for her film career

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Barack Obama recently expressed his pride in daughter Malia Obama’s decision to debut under the name “Malia Ann” in her burgeoning film career.

Malia’s first film, 'The Heart', premiered at Sundance 2024, where she presented herself simply as Malia Ann, distancing her career from the Obama legacy, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter.

Barack Obama reacts to Malia’s decision to drop her last name

The move, viewed as a step toward carving out her own identity in Hollywood, enabled Malia to shine on her own merits without relying on her family’s prominent name.

During a recent episode of the 'Pivot Podcast', the former president spoke openly about his reaction to Malia’s choice. “The challenge for us is letting us give them any help, at all. They’re very sensitive about this stuff. They’re very stubborn about it. Malia, she’s making movies, so she made her first movie. And, you know, I’ll be a dad, I’ll brag a little bit," Obama said.

“Her first film went to Sundance and all these fancy film festivals, and she didn’t use Obama as a director on the credits,” he said, adding, “I was all like, ‘You do know they’ll know who you are,’” with a proud laugh.

“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.”

Obama shared that during his time in the White House, he reached a sort of understanding with the press: they could report on him as they wished, provided they respected one crucial point—“Leave my kids out of it. They deserve the chance to grow up,” he recalled to the hosts.

Obama credited the grounded approach he and Michelle instilled in their daughters, Malia and Sasha, for their independent pursuits. With Malia establishing herself as a filmmaker, Obama noted that his daughter’s decision reflects her desire to be recognized for her work rather than her name.

He shared that he and Michelle couldn’t be prouder, as both daughters have grown into young women focused on carving out their own paths without relying on the family’s influence.

Barack Obama’s remarks on Malia’s name change spark debate

Former President Barack Obama’s recent comments regarding his daughter Malia's decision to drop the family name for her film career have ignited a lively discussion across social media. 

One user shared their thoughts, saying, “Congrats on this interview. I do wish the paparazzi would leave them alone, particularly when Sasha would just be coming and going from class. I didn’t like that.”

In support of the Obamas, another user commented, “The Obamas are exceptional parents.”

A user praised Obama’s candidness, with one stating, “What an awesome guest, love to see it.”

One user remarked, “I bet the Bush children use their name. The Kennedys? The Trumps too. We have to minimize tho.”

A user added, “Thanks for sharing this! Enjoyed the interview!”

Others noted their respect for Obama, with one saying, “All the people hating, I may not agree with Obama on a lot of political stuff, but I definitely respect the man and the s**t he went through as POTUS. When he speaks, I do listen. Congrats guys on a big interview.”

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