Former U.S. President Barack Obama has finally responded to the news that his eldest daughter, Malia, whom he shares with human rights advocate, author, and actress Michelle Obama, has opted to drop her famous last name.
As a politician turned author and voice-over artist, Obama mentioned that he understands why the 26-year-old creative would prefer a stage name rather than carrying her father’s well-known surname into professional spaces.
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Earlier this year, in February, Malia made headlines at the Sundance Film Festival, where she premiered her film *The Heart* using only her first and middle names, Malia Ann, for her directorial credit.
During a recent appearance on the “Pivot” podcast, Obama shared his thoughts on Malia’s decision, admitting it didn’t come as a big surprise. However, he did caution her, jokingly reminding the budding filmmaker that dropping her last name wouldn’t fully obscure her connection to her high-profile family.
“Her first film went to Sundance and all these prestigious festivals, and she didn’t use Obama in the credits,” Obama laughed. “I told her, ‘You know they’ll still know who you are.’”
Obama explained that Malia’s intention was for audiences to view her work, *The Heart*, without any preconceptions tied to the Obama name. “And she was like, ‘I want them to watch it without any association.’” He added proudly that both of his daughters strive to build their paths independently of their family’s influence.
He continued, “Our daughters consciously avoid leveraging their status. They’re very independent, and even offering help is challenging. They’re quite firm on this.”
Obama also noted that his daughters have grown more averse to media attention, saying, “As they’ve gotten older, the paparazzi stuff really bothers them because they’re not seeking that spotlight. They’re grounded.”
The former president and Michelle Obama share two daughters: Malia, 26, and Sasha, 23.
