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Michelle Obama Sings "Don't Copy Me"

by Erin Corbett

The highly anticipated "Carpool Karaoke" segment with the Late Late Show host James Corden and featuring First Lady Michelle Obama finally aired Wednesday night, and it was full of surprises. Corden showed up at the White House where Obama got in the car and the two did a tour of the White House grounds rocking out to Stevie Wonder, Beyoncé, and Missy Elliot — and Elliot joined them along the way. As they were singing Elliot's 2001 hit "Get Ur Freak On," Obama delivers the line "Copywritten, so don't copy me," a coincidental dig at Melania Trump's Republican National Convention speech?

Of course, the segment was pre-filmed; however, the timing is perfect, given that Trump delivered her speech on Monday night with a few borrowed lines from Obama's 2008 Democratic National Convention speech. Trump's speech inspired plenty of jokes online, which purposely misattributed some famous historical quotes to the GOP nominee's wife. Actor Jesse Williams tweeted "'I have a dream' #FamousMelaniaTrumpQuotes." Another wrote, "'In west Philadelphia born and raised, on the playground was where I spent most of my days.'" Some joked that the best part of the plagiarism was that the part that came from Obama's speech focused on "honesty, character, and integrity."

While the "Carpool Karaoke" segment was filmed at least a month ago, the timing was just right.

All shade aside, Meredith McIver, who reportedly wrote Trump's speech, came forward on Wednesday to take responsibility for the plagiarized portion of Trump's address. McIver explained:

In working with Melania Trump on her recent First Lady speech, we discussed many people who inspired her and messages she wanted to share with the American people. A person she has always liked is Michelle Obama.

McIver then wrote that she took a few notes on parts of Obama's speech that Trump liked, and forgot to make the appropriate changes before giving the speech to Trump. "This was my mistake, and I feel terrible for the chaos I have caused Melania and the Trumps, as well as Mrs. Obama," she wrote.

Over the course of their "Carpool Karaoke" drive, Obama gave Corden a tour of the grounds, showing the Late Late Show host the rose garden, as well as the Oval Office. When Corden asked if the president is in the office at that moment, Obama said, "He better be, that's where he said he was." The two later rock out to the music, dance moves included.