After months of mounting speculation, Barack and Michelle Obama finally shut down rumors about their marriage – and they did it with their signature blend of warmth and wit.
Post-presidency, rumours have swirled that the former first couple were on the verge of divorce. They reached a fever pitch in January, when Michelle sat out the funeral of former President Jimmy Carter and later the second inauguration of President Donald Trump.
In an appearance on Michelle’s podcast IMO, the former First Couple tackled tabloid headlines head-on, offering an intimate glimpse into their 33-year journey together. The podcast is co-hosted by Michelle’s brother Craig Robinson.
“What, you guys like each other?” Craig teased.
“Oh yeah, the rumor mill,” said Michelle.
Barack laughed, “She took me back! It was touch and go for a while.”
Michelle added, “When we’re not seen together, people assume we’re divorced.”
Their light-hearted banter quickly gave way to deeper reflections on their relationship and the persistent falsehoods that tend to spread online.
Michelle’s Commitment to Barack
Despite the constant gossip, Michelle left no room for doubt about her devotion to her husband.
“There hasn’t been one moment in our marriage where I thought about quitting my man,” she said emotionally.
She continued, “We’ve had hard times and a lot of fun too – adventures, laughter – and I’ve become a better person because of the man I married.”
Barack confessed that he didn’t even know rumors were swirling until others clued him in.
“These are the kinds of things I just miss. I don’t even know they’re happening,” he said. “Then someone mentions it and I’m like, ‘What are you talking about?’”
Michelle’s Absence from Public
Rumors intensified after Michelle missed high-profile events like Jimmy Carter’s funeral and Donald Trump’s inauguration. But she made it clear that those were her own choices.
In a previous podcast appearance, she dismissed speculation about marital problems, saying, “If I were having issues with my husband, everybody would know.”
“I’m not a martyr,” she joked. “If Barack messed up, I’d be out there like, ‘Let me tell you what this fool did.’”
She blamed societal expectations, adding, “Apparently, a grown woman can’t just make her own decisions. That’s how society limits us.”
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