Malia Obama’s personal life has attracted renewed interest as the former first daughter continues building her career in filmmaking. A June 2026 profile revisited her dating history, including her relationship with British former Harvard classmate Rory Farquharson. Although Malia has been linked to other men since their reported separation, she has not publicly confirmed a new relationship or explained why her romance with Farquharson ended.
Malia, the eldest daughter of former U.S. President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama, began dating Farquharson while attending Harvard University. Their relationship became public in 2017 and continued for several years, including during the COVID-19 pandemic. Farquharson even spent time staying with the Obama family, making him one of the few people Malia has dated whom her parents have publicly discussed.
Who Is Malia Obama’s Ex-Boyfriend?
Malia Obama’s best-known ex-boyfriend is Rory Farquharson, a British former Harvard University student.
The two reportedly began dating in 2017 after meeting at Harvard, where Malia enrolled following her gap year.
Their relationship attracted considerable media attention because Malia had spent much of her childhood in the White House.
Farquharson was born in the United Kingdom and grew up in a family connected to the financial industry.
Before attending Harvard, he studied at Rugby School, a prestigious independent boarding school in England.
He later moved to the United States for his university education.
Although he became widely recognized through his relationship with Malia, Farquharson has generally maintained a private life and avoided discussing their romance publicly.
Who Is Rory Farquharson?
Rory Farquharson is a British Harvard graduate who attracted international attention after being romantically linked to Malia Obama.
He attended Rugby School in Warwickshire, England, where he participated in school activities and served as head boy.
His father, Charles Farquharson, has worked in the financial sector, while his mother, Catherine, has maintained a comparatively private profile.
Rory later attended Harvard University, where he met Malia.
Unlike his former girlfriend, who grew up in one of America’s most recognizable political families, Farquharson had no comparable public profile before their relationship became known.
He has not pursued a prominent entertainment or political career.
Details about his current occupation and personal relationships remain limited in reliable public reporting.
How Did Malia Obama and Rory Farquharson Meet?
Malia Obama and Rory Farquharson met while studying at Harvard University in Massachusetts.
Malia began attending Harvard in 2017 after taking a gap year following high school.
Their relationship became public in November 2017 when they were photographed kissing during a Harvard football game.
The photographs attracted widespread attention because Malia had only recently begun university.
The couple were subsequently photographed spending time together in Cambridge and New York City.
Despite the media interest, neither Malia nor Farquharson regularly discussed their relationship.
Their approach reflected Malia’s preference for maintaining privacy while adjusting to life outside the White House.
The relationship continued throughout much of their university experience.
Rory Farquharson Stayed With the Obama Family During the Pandemic
One of the most widely discussed moments in Malia and Rory’s relationship occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In December 2020, Barack Obama revealed that Farquharson had spent several weeks staying with the family.
During an appearance on The Bill Simmons Podcast, the former president explained that Rory had been unable to return to Britain because of travel and visa complications.
The Obama family welcomed him into their home while restrictions disrupted international travel.
Barack described Farquharson as a good young man and spoke positively about having him around.
He also joked that the additional guest had significantly increased the family’s grocery expenses.
During the lockdown, the family spent time playing games, including spades, and participating in activities together.
The revelation confirmed that Malia’s relationship with Rory had become serious enough for him to spend an extended period with her parents.
Why Did Malia Obama and Rory Farquharson Break Up?
Malia Obama and Rory Farquharson have never publicly explained why their relationship ended.
The couple were linked for several years, beginning in 2017.
However, reports suggesting that they had separated began circulating in 2022.
At the time, Malia was photographed spending time with music producer Dawit Eklund in Los Angeles.
Those appearances led to speculation that her relationship with Farquharson had ended.
Neither Malia nor Rory issued a public breakup announcement.
As a result, the precise date of their separation and the reasons behind it remain unconfirmed.
There is no reliable evidence establishing that infidelity, family disagreements, or another specific dispute caused their relationship to end.
Was Malia Obama Dating Dawit Eklund After Rory Farquharson?
Following her reported separation from Rory Farquharson, Malia Obama was romantically linked to music producer Dawit Eklund.
The two were photographed together during several outings in Los Angeles in 2022.
Eklund is an Ethiopian-American electronic music producer and co-founder of the Washington, D.C.-based record label 1432 R.
His work focuses on electronic music and independent creative projects.
Photographs of Malia and Eklund attracted attention because they appeared comfortable spending time together.
However, neither publicly confirmed that they were in an exclusive romantic relationship.
Their appearances were widely interpreted as evidence of a possible romance, but the nature and duration of their connection remain uncertain.
Has Malia Obama Dated Anyone Else?
Malia Obama has been linked to several other men since her relationship with Rory Farquharson.
In late 2023, she was photographed spending time with rapper Aminé in Los Angeles.
The outing generated speculation about a possible relationship, although neither publicly confirmed they were dating.
In October 2024, Malia was seen with Greek journalist and photographer Achilleas Ambatzidis.
Their appearance similarly attracted attention from entertainment publications.
However, being photographed with someone does not necessarily establish a romantic relationship.
Malia has not publicly confirmed that either connection developed into a serious partnership.
Her current relationship status remains private.
What Has Michelle Obama Said About Her Daughter’s Dating Life?
Michelle Obama has occasionally discussed the dating experiences of her daughters, Malia and Sasha.
In her 2022 book The Light We Carry, the former first lady explained that she wanted her daughters to explore relationships without feeling pressured to marry too early.
She emphasized the importance of gaining experience and understanding personal expectations before making long-term commitments.
During an August 2025 episode of her podcast IMO with Michelle Obama and Craig Robinson, Michelle again discussed her approach to dating advice.
She encouraged her daughters to meet different people and remain open to new experiences.
Her comments reflected her belief that dating can help young adults better understand compatibility and personal values.
However, Michelle did not identify Malia’s current boyfriend or provide details about her previous breakup with Farquharson.
Malia Obama’s Career After Harvard
Malia Obama has increasingly focused on establishing a career in entertainment rather than entering politics.
She graduated from Harvard University in 2021 and subsequently moved to Los Angeles.
Her early professional experience included working as a writer on Swarm, the psychological horror television series created by Donald Glover and Janine Nabers.
The series premiered in 2023 and featured Dominique Fishback in the leading role.
Malia later directed the short film The Heart, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2024.
She received attention for using the professional name Malia Ann, reflecting her desire to develop an identity separate from her famous surname.
Her film was also screened at the Deauville American Film Festival in France.
These projects demonstrated her growing interest in storytelling, screenwriting, and directing.
Although her dating history continues attracting attention, her professional ambitions have become an increasingly important part of her public identity.
Is Malia Obama Currently Dating Anyone?
As of November 2026, Malia Obama has not publicly confirmed a current romantic partner.
Her relationship with Rory Farquharson remains her most extensively documented romance.
She has since been photographed with other individuals, but those appearances have not always been accompanied by confirmation of a relationship.
Malia continues living a comparatively private life while pursuing her filmmaking career.
Her parents have occasionally discussed their daughters’ independence and personal growth, but they have generally avoided revealing specific details about their romantic relationships.
For those searching for Malia Obama’s ex-boyfriend, Rory Farquharson is the British former Harvard student she dated beginning in 2017. Their relationship continued through the pandemic before reports of a separation emerged in 2022. Although Malia has subsequently been linked to other men, she has not publicly explained the breakup or confirmed her current relationship status.
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