Former US First Lady Speaks on Her Marriage with Obama Amidst Divorce Speculation
- Michelle Obama has broken her silence on divorce rumours surrounding her marriage to former US President Barack Obama
- The speculation intensified after she was absent from key public events earlier this year, including Donald Trump’s inauguration
- In a candid interview, she dismissed the rumours and spoke about the pressures women face when making independent choices
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Michelle Obama has publicly addressed persistent rumours that she and her husband, former US President Barack Obama, were heading for divorce.
Speaking on Work in Progress, a podcast hosted by actress Sophia Bush, the former First Lady dismissed the speculation surrounding her marriage. She explained the societal expectations placed on women who make independent choices.
Source: Twitter
According to The Independent UK, the rumour mill intensified in January after Barack Obama attended the funeral of former President Jimmy Carter without Michelle by his side.
Days later, she confirmed she would not be present at Donald Trump’s second presidential inauguration, fuelling public speculation that the couple’s decades-long marriage was under strain.
On Wednesday’s podcast episode, Michelle pushed back against the narrative that her decisions signalled relationship troubles.
“The interesting thing is that, when I say ‘no,’ for the most part people are like, ‘I get it, and I’m OK',” she said. “That’s the thing that we as women, I think we struggle with - disappointing people.”
She went on to describe how society often misinterprets women’s autonomy.
“This couldn't be a grown woman just making a set of decisions for herself, right? But that's what society does to us. We start actually, finally going, ‘What am I doing? Who am I doing this for?’ And if it doesn't fit into the sort of stereotype of what people think we should do, then it gets labelled as something negative and horrible.”
Barack Obama reflects on marriage, leadership strain
Michelle Obama’s remarks came shortly after Barack offered a rare insight into their marriage during a public talk at Hamilton College on April 3.
Reflecting on the impact of his presidency, he said: “I was in a deep deficit with my wife. I’ve been trying to dig myself out of that hole by doing occasionally fun things.”
The couple, who have been married for 32 years, have previously spoken openly about the highs and lows of their relationship.
In an interview with Revolt TV, Michelle candidly admitted, “There are times I’m 70, he’s 30. There are times he’s 60, I’m 40.”
She also stated that there were 10 years during which she 'couldn’t stand Barack'.
Despite the rough patch, she emphasised the value of long-term commitment: “I would take 10 bad years over 30. It’s just how you look at it.”
According to Michelle, the strain stemmed from an imbalance in their responsibilities during Barack’s early political career, with her taking the lead in raising their children.
“That’s when all the measuring starts,” she said. “Couples often turn that ire on each other.”
Source: Twitter
Sources reject ‘Camelot’ image of the Obamas
Michelle’s statements appeared to corroborate earlier reports by Page Six, in which a source close to the Obamas explained that Michelle simply had no interest in attending high-profile political events in Washington, D.C.
“They don’t pretend that they have this Camelot relationship,” the source said. “They’re not trying to present that they’re this magical couple.”
Brief facts about Obama, Michelle's marriage
Barack Obama and Michelle Robinson were married in 1992 at Chicago’s Trinity United Church of Christ. The couple has two daughters, Malia and Sasha.
Their public introduction came during the 2007 campaign trail, but their story began nearly two decades earlier when Michelle Robinson was assigned to mentor Barack Obama at the Chicago law firm Sidley & Austin. After a three-year courtship, the couple wed in 1992, starting a partnership that would later shape American politics
Michelle Obama's view on marriage
In a recent interview on NPR’s Life Kit podcast, Michelle Obama offered insightful advice to young adults seeking guidance on marriage.
“You have to be prepared for long periods of discomfort,” she explained. “And when I say long, I mean it can last for years.”
She also expressed concern about the lack of honest conversations around relationships, saying:
“I’m fascinated by how little we talk to young people about what it actually means to partner with someone and what those compromises really look like.”
Michelle also addressed a common misconception about marriage: the idea of equal give-and-take at all times.
“Marriage is never 50/50,” she remarked. “I wonder how that idea ever took hold.”
Why society misjudges women’s absence from public eye – Expert explains
A marriage and relationship expert, Nwachukwu Mac-Anthony Ikenna, has shed light on why society often views a woman’s absence in public as a sign of trouble in her marriage.
Speaking to Legit.ng, he noted that societal expectations have long placed women in restrictive roles, and any deviation is frequently misinterpreted.
“Women are often expected to be nice, caring, and prioritizing the needs of others (especially her family) over her own. Decisions that deviate from this image are seen as ‘selfish’ or ‘unnatural,’” he said.
He explained that many people still see women’s independence as a disruption to the traditional order, adding:
“Some people are uncomfortable with women having autonomy and making decisions that affect their own lives. Judgment can be a way of trying to limit their power and keep them in their supposed place.”
He also blamed gossip culture and the sense of public entitlement for fueling misinterpretations of women’s personal choices.
“People will always talk, gossip is as old as man... Some people like to stick their noses into other people’s lives with this entitlement mind-set that suggests that if you’re famous, you have to tell them everything about your family and personal life,” he added.
Life of mother, former US First Lady
Legit.ng earlier reported that former US First Lady Michelle Obama celebrated turning 58 years old.
In celebration of her birthday, Legit.ng compiled seven interesting details about the US wonder-woman.
Nurudeen Lawal, Head of the Politics and Current Affairs Desk, contributed key insights on Barack and Michelle Obama's marriage, including the former First Lady’s perspective on marital relationships, to this report.
Editorial assistant Ololade Olatimehin provided exclusive commentary from a marriage and relationship expert for this report.
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Proofreading by Bruce Douglas, copy editor at Legit.ng.
Source: Legit.ng
Basit Jamiu (Current Affairs and Politics Editor) Basit Jamiu is a journalist with more than five years of experience. He is a current affairs and politics editor at Legit.ng. He holds a bachelor's degree from Ekiti State University (2018). Basit previously worked as a staff writer at Ikeja Bird (2022), Associate Editor at Prime Progress (2022), and Staff Writer at The Movee (2018). He is a 2024 Open Climate Fellow (West Africa), 2023 MTN Media Fellow, OCRP Fellow at ICIR, and Accountability Fellow at CJID. Email: basit.jamiu@corp.legit.ng.
Bruce Douglas (Head of Copyeditors) Bruce Douglas has 13 years of experience in community media, including coverage of sports, human interest, crime and politics.
