Whoopi Goldberg Passionately Defends Malia Obama Dropping Her Last Name In Film Credits: ‘She Can Be Whoever The Hell She Wants To Be’

Whoopi Goldberg Passionately Defends Malia Obama Dropping Her Last Name In Film Credits: ‘She Can Be Whoever The Hell She Wants To Be’

Whoopi Goldberg is standing up for Malia Obama. 

On Wednesday’s (February 21) installment of The View, the panel discussed Malia Obama’s directorial debut at the Sundance Film Festival with her short film The Heart. (In Sundance Institute’s “Meet the Artist” spotlight video, Malia Obama, the eldest daughter of former President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama) is introduced as a filmmaker under the name Malia Ann. 

Whoopi Goldberg slammed the criticism Malia Obama has received online over the stage name, as some claim it’s still obvious that she’s an Obama. The EGOT recipient quipped,

“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.”

Whoopi Goldberg, whose real name is Caryn Elaine Johnson, added that if she can go by a stage name, so can Malia Obama. 

“She can be whoever the hell she wants to be! Why are people triggered by this kind of stuff? You got too much time on your hands. You want to be worried about something? Worry about who’s running for President.”

The Heart wasn’t Malia’s first time working in Hollywood. She was also a writer for Amazon Prime Video’s comedic thriller Swarm, created by Donald Glover and Janine Nabers. Even then, Malia’s skills were standing out as she and Nabers co-wrote episode 5, titled Girl Bye.

Nabers saluted Malia for her provocative ideas for the series and said last March,

“Some of her pitches were wild as hell, and they were just so good and so funny. She’s an incredible writer. She brought a lot to the table… She’s really, really dedicated to her craft. I’m really excited for everyone to get to know her work, and the work of the writers on a show.”

Chloe Bailey

Chloe Bailey–who starred as Marissa in the series–also swooned over Malia’s evolution.

“It was always so fun and exciting getting to run into Malia and Sasha years prior… So, having that relationship with Mrs. Obama and getting to meet her daughters, I was always so honored and they always felt like my family in my head.”

She continued,

“So, getting to see Malia now, us both growing into who we are as young women and making our own mark, her as an incredible writer and me making my mark as an entertainer and an actress, it was really fun. I was just so excited when I actually got to see her on set. I’m just so proud of her.”

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