Michelle Obama is speaking out about the speculation surrounding her marriage with former President Barack Obama.
During an appearance on Sophia Bush’s Work in Progress podcast, the former First Lady addressed recent rumors suggesting she and Barack were headed for divorce. The speculation came after Michelle was noticeably absent from a few high-profile events, including Donald Trump’s inauguration and former President Jimmy Carter’s funeral.
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Michelle explained that the rumors likely stemmed from her decision to take some time for herself — something that didn’t sit well with public expectations.
“This year, people couldn’t even fathom that I was making a choice for myself,” she said. “They had to assume that my husband and I are divorcing.”
She noted how difficult it can be for women to simply say no without it being misunderstood.
“That’s the thing we as women struggle with — disappointing people,” she said. “If it doesn’t fit into the stereotype of what people think we should do, it gets labeled as something negative.”
Michelle shared that since stepping away from the public eye and with both of their daughters, Malia and Sasha, now adults, she’s found more freedom in managing her own time. She said she’s using that time to focus on herself and the causes she still cares about, like girls’ education.
The comments come after months of speculation, but Michelle made it clear that her time away shouldn’t be taken as a sign of relationship issues. Instead, it’s part of navigating life after the White House — on her own terms.
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