In an image shared on Instagram Monday, Malia Obama can be seen wearing a Pro Era tee shirt.
This photo emerged just after the hip hop group came under scrutiny when one of its founding members was arrested for punching a security guard in the nose, and Pro Era (also called Progressive Era) has taken the opportunity to cash in on the marketing opportunity.
The group shared the image on Instagram:
The image is a break from the bad press Pro Era has had recently since member Joey Bada$$ was charged with assault.
While some Instagram users expressed support for Malia, others wondered whether or not the image was even real, given the Obamas’ strict control of the media around their girls.
Previously, Malia had revealed both that she was a rap fan and that she loved taking selfies, however, so the image may indeed be the real deal.
Monday afternoon, Gawker’s Caity Weaver got to the bottom of the photo’s origin:
A representative for Joey Bada$$ said in an email to Gawker that Pro Era received the photo from “a mutual friend of Malia and the pro era member.”