Michelle Obama is finally speaking out. After weeks of whispers and wild theories, the former first lady addressed the rising speculation surrounding her marriage to former President Barack Obama.
The gossip mill exploded after Michelle skipped President Jimmy Carterโs funeral and Donald Trumpโs inauguration. Many online took her absence as a sign that the power couple was falling apart.
A podcast reveal with a personal twist
During an episode of Sophia Bushโs podcast Work in Progress, Michelle pushed back hard on the divorce talk.
โThatโs the thing we as women struggle withโdisappointing people,โ she said. โThis year, people couldnโt fathom I was just making a choice for myself. They assumed Barack and I were getting divorced.โ
Michelle, now 61, said her decisions were simply personal. She added, โIt couldnโt just be a grown woman making her own decisions, right?โ
Barack admits heโs in a โdeficitโ
The timing didnโt help. Just days before Michelleโs podcast dropped, Barack Obama admitted he was in a โdeep deficitโ with his wife during a speech at Hamilton College in New York.
He didnโt elaborate much, but his comment fanned the flames already burning on social media.
Still, Michelleโs recent comments paint a different picture. She said women often feel pressure to explain their lives to everyone.
โWhen we finally ask ourselves, โWhat am I doing? Who am I doing this for?โ it gets twisted into something negative,โ she said.
Reflecting on life and identity
Michelle spoke candidly about her next chapter in life. She shared that sheโs asking herself serious questions about how she wants to spend her future.
โThis is the time for me to think about who I really want to be,โ she said. โIt looks like whatever I want it to look like.โ
She insisted sheโs still activeโgiving speeches, championing girlsโ education, and helping with the Obama presidential library in Chicago.
โBut there are things Iโm not doing,โ she added.
Skipping Carterโs funeral and Trumpโs swearing-in
Michelle skipped both President Carterโs funeral on January 9 and Trumpโs inauguration on January 20. Both events happened just days before her January 17 birthday.
According to sources, she remained in Hawaii for an extended vacation during that time.
Her absence sparked even more โObama divorce rumors,โ despite her husband posting a tribute to her online for her birthday.
Yet the photo he shared received backlash online, with some claiming it only fueled more doubt about their relationship.
The Aniston affair rumor didnโt help
The rumors werenโt just about a rift. They also involved another A-lister: Jennifer Aniston.
Last year, InTouch magazine featured Barack and Jennifer on its cover, suggesting an affair. The claim made headlines.
Jennifer laughed off the gossip during an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live. โThatโs absolutely untrue,โ she said. โBut I wasnโt mad at it.โ
Kimmel even joked, asking if she had something going on with Michelle instead. She denied that too with a laugh.
โIโve met him once,โ Aniston added. โI know Michelle more than him.โ
Michelleโs grieving may have influenced her decisions
During her DNC speech in August, Michelle revealed she was still grieving the loss of her mother, Marian Robinson, who passed away in May.
โI wasnโt sure I could even come,โ she said at the time.
Still, she appeared alongside Barack to support Vice President Kamala Harris, showing a united front despite rumors to the contrary.
Michelle also made limited campaign appearances for Harris later in the year, showing she hadnโt fully stepped away from public life.
A couple in the public eye
The Obamas have been married since 1992. After leaving the White House in 2017, they launched the Obama Foundation, signed a major Netflix deal, and continued global advocacy efforts.
Theyโve faced public scrutiny before. But this time, the โObama divorce rumorsโ seemed to spiral faster than usual.
Michelleโs absence from recent events, Barackโs vague comments, and the paparazzi buzz only added fuel to the fire.
Public love and quiet pushback
Despite the noise, the Obamas have continued showing affection publicly. Their joint appearances and online tributes, like Barackโs birthday post, offer a different narrative than the gossip suggests.
Michelle reminded listeners on the podcast that not every decision needs to be explained.
โSometimes โnoโ just means โno,โโ she said. โAnd most people understand that.โ