Barack Obama enjoyed prime courtside seats at the Los Angeles Clippers game on Wednesday night, but once again, his wife Michelle was nowhere in sight.
As divorce rumors swirl around the former First Couple, Obama sat alongside Clippers owner Steve Ballmer and his wife, Connie Snyder, at the Intuit Dome to watch the Clippers take on the Detroit Pistons.
Obama cheered as he attends NBA game solo
The 63-year-old ex-president received a standing ovation when introduced to the crowd, smiling and waving to fans in the packed 18,000-seat arena. His love for basketball is well known, but his repeated public outings without Michelle have only fueled speculation about their marriage.
Obama was also noticeably alone at key recent events, including Jimmy Carter’s state funeral and Donald Trump’s inauguration, where Michelle skipped the tradition of attending.
Aniston scandal added fuel to the fire
Last October, Hollywood star Jennifer Aniston was forced to deny “absolutely untrue” tabloid claims that she and Obama were romantically involved. The rumors, which alleged Michelle felt “betrayed,” were amplified by pop culture podcast Who? Weekly, which claimed the Obamas were “living separate lives” while Barack and Jennifer were having an affair.
Aniston later shut down the speculation, saying on a TV talk show, “I’ve met him once. I know Michelle more than him.”
A night of basketball and distraction
If there is any truth to the marriage troubles, Obama seemed more focused on basketball than rumors. He was seen chatting with Ballmer and even received a warm hug from Clippers coach Tyronn Lue.
Clippers star James Harden delivered an impressive 50-point performance, leading the team to a 123-115 win over Detroit. Though Obama is a longtime Chicago Bulls fan, he has spoken about struggling to afford tickets to see Michael Jordan play during his early days in the city.
Obama’s outing follows Trump’s fiery speech
His latest solo appearance comes just a day after Donald Trump’s address to Congress, where sports took center stage. Trump introduced former high school volleyball player Payton McNabb, who suffered a concussion and partial paralysis after a trans athlete spiked a ball into her face.
While Obama appeared relaxed courtside, the ongoing whispers about his marriage continue to dominate headlines, leaving many wondering whether the former First Couple is headed for an official split.
