I assume youâve seen these rumors that Barack and Michelle Obama are getting a divorce, but where did they actually come from? Well, Michelle Obama herself has a theory, which she explained in a recent podcast interview. And before you ask, no, the rumors are not true.
Speaking to Sophia Bush on the Work in Progress podcast, Obama said that, these days, sheâs finally allowing herself the freedom to set her own calendar. Sometimes that means saying no to certain political appearances (such as a new presidentâs inauguration, for example) that are often expected of former first ladies, and letting the former president attend these events solo. Unfortunately, her absence was interpreted by some as a signal that her and her husbandâs marriage was suffering.
âAs women, I think, we struggle with, like, disappointing people,â Obama said. âI mean, so much so that this year peopleâ¦couldnât even fathom that I was making a choice for myself that they had to assume that my husband and I are divorcing.â
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But the truth is simply that Michelle Obama is just making the choices that are best for her. âI could have made a lot of these decisions years ago, but I didnât give myself that freedom,â she explained on the pod. This year, she said, âwas a real big example of me, myself, looking at something that I was supposed to doâyou know, without naming namesâand I chose to do what was best for me, not what I had to do, not what I thought other people wanted me to do.â Presumably, Obama was referring to skipping Donald Trumpâs inauguration as well as the funeral for former president Jimmy Carter.
This explanation tracks with what was reported after the inauguration, when a source told People that Michelle Obama is simply doing whatâs best for herself, now. âShe served in the public eye and did all the public good that she could for eight years as first lady. Youâll see her when she has a project or cause to promote, but she doesnât feel the need to be a public figure anymore,â the source said.