Barack Obama Reacts to Malia Obama Dropping Last Name Professionally

As I delve deeper into the world of celebrity children and their unique paths, I find myself in awe of their courage and determination to carve out their own identities. Each story is a testament to their individuality, showcasing how they navigate through life’s challenges with grace and resilience.

Barack Obama understands why Malia Obama wanted a stage name.

At the 2024 Sundance Film Festival in February, the 26-year-old daughter of the former president and Michelle Obama decided to go by her middle name Malia Ann instead of using the last name Obama when she premiered her film “The Heart”. This choice didn’t come as a surprise to Barack, who is also the father of Sasha Obama, 23.

In the October 29th episode of The Pivot Podcast, I admitted that assisting them can be a tricky endeavor. You see, they’re quite guarded when it comes to these matters. They’re incredibly resilient and firm in their beliefs.

When he noticed she was opting to use just her first name for credit, he cautioned her that their familial connection might still become apparent to others.

The 63-year-old said, “I told her, ‘Don’t you think they’ll recognize you?'” To which she replied, “I prefer if they can watch it without any preconceived notions about me first.” So, I believe our daughters make an effort to avoid using their fame in any way.

However, Barack has observed that his daughters have received increased public focus as they’ve grown into adults and pursued their interests.

As they grow older, there have been instances of media attention or intrusive photography, which really bothers them because they prefer to avoid such limelight. Consequently, they are keeping a low profile, or in simpler terms, they’ve been asked to stay home.

For Barack and Michelle, who are engaged in Hollywood with their film company Higher Ground Productions, it was crucial to allow Malia and Sasha a relatively ordinary childhood. In fact, one reason he hesitated before entering politics was his concern that their daughters might grow up to be unconventional or unusual, as he put it, “might end up weird.

However, it’s worth noting that during most of his presidency, the White House press corps primarily focused on him, thereby allowing his daughters to maintain a level of privacy.

He clarified that he had reached an agreement with the media. He stated, ‘Feel free to accompany me, discuss me, do whatever is necessary. However, please respect my children’s privacy. They didn’t ask for this public life, they should be allowed to grow up normally.’ To their credit, the media honored his request and respected his children’s privacy.

Now that they’re adults, the 44th President can’t help but boast about how well his daughters have turned out. He proudly mentions that Malia’s film has been showcased in numerous prestigious film festivals and even got to collaborate with renowned artist Donald Glover. He’s particularly pleased with how gracefully Malia and Sasha have grown, considering the challenges of growing up under public scrutiny at a young age.

“They’ve turned out amazing,” he said with a smile. “I can’t brag about them enough.”

Apart from Barack, it’s not just Donald who praises Malia. In fact, Donald, being the executive producer of Malia’s short film ‘The Heart’, had nothing but great things to share about collaborating with her when she was a staff writer on his Amazon Prime series, ‘Swarm’.

In March 2022, he expressed to Vanity Fair that he believes she’s someone who has wonderful opportunities ahead of her. He acknowledged her impressive writing skills and emphasized that she should not be given any special treatment merely because she is the former president’s daughter.

Notably, Malia isn’t the only Hollywood figure who has opted to go by a name other than their famous family surname. Dive into the article ahead to discover who else among the celebrity offspring has made this choice.

In the month of June 2024, during her high school graduation, the daughter of Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes chose to be recognized as Suri Noelle, a combination of her first name and her mother’s middle name.

In 2023, Malia Obama, the daughter of former U.S. President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama, opted to use only her first and middle names – Malia Ann – in the credits for her movie project titled “The Heart.

Shiloh Jolie-Pitt turned 18 in May 2024 and decided to legally change her name to Shiloh Jolie, omitting the last name associated with her father, Brad Pitt, and keeping only her mother’s surname, Angelina Jolie.

Designer Mossimo Giannulli and actress Lori Loughlin’s child Olivia Jade Giannulli, in her role as a social media influencer, is known simply as Olivia Jade for her YouTube endeavors.

Rob Schneider’s child, Tanner Elle Schneider, opted to use Elle King as her stage name, combining her middle name with her mother London King’s last name, in pursuit of her singing profession.

As a die-hard fan, I can’t help but share this fascinating tidbit: the enchanting actress from “Hocus Pocus,” none other than Kathy Najimy, and the hilarious Dan Finnerty from “The Hangover” are the proud parents of a talent to watch – their daughter, Samia Najimy Finnerty. However, she’s chosen to make her mark in the music world under the simpler moniker, simply known as Samia.

Nicolas Cage, named after the fictional character Luke Cage from comic books.

As a die-hard admirer, I can’t help but share the exciting news: Willow, the daughter of the legendary Will Smith and the remarkable Jada Pinkett Smith, has opted to perform under the mononym WILLOW in her music career. It’s an intriguing transformation that promises to add a fresh, captivating spark to the world of music!

2024-10-31 01:48

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