Former President Barack Obama recently opened up about his daughter Malia's decision to go by her first and middle names, Malia Ann, in her professional work. The 26-year-old, who made her directorial debut with The Heart at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival, chose to leave "Obama" out of the film's credits, aiming to establish her own identity in the entertainment industry.
Obama addressed Malia's choice on The Pivot Podcast, noting that it didn't come as a surprise to him. "I was all like, 'You do know they'll know who you are,'" he recounted. "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."
For Malia, stepping away from the family name professionally is part of an effort to navigate her career independently, something both she and her sister, Sasha, are committed to. "The challenge for [Michelle and me] is letting us give them any help at all," Obama explained. "I mean they're very sensitive about this stuff. They're very stubborn about it."
In addition to the name change, Malia's decision reflects a desire to avoid associations that may overshadow her work. Obama acknowledged that his daughters are keen on making their own way, adding, "Their attitude is, 'We're not looking for all that.' So they're grounded." As they've matured, both Malia and Sasha have been increasingly in the public eye, attracting more media scrutiny, something Obama says they find difficult. "Now, as they've gotten older, there's been some paparazzi stuff going on, and it drives them nuts," he said on the podcast.
Reflecting on the years his family spent in the White House, Obama shared how he had tried to shield his daughters from the intense media attention. "I basically made a deal with the press pool," he explained. "I said, 'You can follow me around. You can talk about me. You do whatever you need to do. Leave my children alone because they have the right to grow up. They didn't choose this. Let them grow up.' And to the credit of the press, they did leave them alone."
However, Malia's use of only her first and middle names has not shielded her from criticism. Despite her efforts to distance herself from her family's fame, some have labeled her a "nepo baby," a term used to describe children who leverage family connections to enter elite fields. One online critic commented, "Calling yourself 'Malia Ann' is not going to avert any Nepo Baby criticisms, Miss Former First Daughter."
Public figures have defended her decision, however. On The View, actress and talk-show host Whoopi Goldberg, who uses a stage name herself, spoke in support of Malia's choice. "She knows she's an Obama, why do you care?" Goldberg said, adding, "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!"
The former president, meanwhile, continues to express pride in his daughters' achievements. "They've turned out amazing," he said. "I can't brag about them enough." In September, Malia attended the 50th annual Deauville American Film Festival in France, where she presented The Heart. Honored with the Young Spirit award, she spoke about her excitement, calling the experience both "a little bit terrifying" and "mostly just excited."
For Obama, Malia's and Sasha's independence is a testament to the upbringing he and his wife, Michelle, strived to provide. He almost chose not to run for office, he shared, to protect their privacy, but he believes his daughters are using their positions in the best possible ways. "They didn't choose this," he said of the attention. "Let them grow up."
