Michelle Obama suggested she felt a connection with her father when picking the first project the production company she founded with husband Barack Obama would back. The former First Lady and US President made their producing debut earlier this week when the documentary American Factory launched on the streaming service Netflix. Discussing what prompted her to back the project, Mrs Obama said: “Those first scenes of folks on the floor, in their uniforms – that was my background, that was my father.
“And that was reflected in this film.”
The documentary the Obamas chose to endorse explores the life of American workers operating a Chinese business in an industrial town of Ohio.
Mrs Obama’s father, Fraser C. Robinson, worked as a city water plant worker before dying of multiple sclerosis in 1991, when the former FLOTUS was 27.
She continued: “One of the many things I love about this project is that it’s not an editorial. You truly let people speak for themselves.
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“Higher Ground is a reflection of both of u. That means our platform is going to look a little bit like everything. Just like the world is a little bit of everything.”
President Obama insisted he and Michelle had decided to back the project to urge viewers to look outside their own experiences and improve their ability to understand others.
Following the announcement of their involvement with the documentary, the Obamas were accused of using the film as a way to criticise the presidency of Donald Trump but filmmaker Julia Reichert denied the suggestions.
Ms Reichert said: “It has zero to do with Trump or Obama, or the political scene at all.
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However, other social media users came to the couples’ defence and applauded them for their taste in music.
One user said: “Forever the two coolest – miss you guys and enjoy the rest of your summer.”
Another commented: “I just love both you and Michelle. You are our past, present and future. God bless you and God Bless America.”
Another said: “Love it! And now it’s a new playlist for me.”
Streaming service Spotify also weighted in the commentary, publishing an official playlist based on the list Michelle Obama posted on Twitter.