Michelle Obama Breaks Silence on Marriage Rumors

Former First Lady Michelle Obama has addressed long-standing rumors about her marriage to Barack Obama, firmly denying any issues during an appearance on The Diary of a CEO podcast (May 1). “If I were having problems with my husband, everybody would know,” she said. “I’m not a martyr.” Her brother, Craig Robinson, joked, “I’d be doing a podcast with Barack Obama.”

Speculation about a marital rift began after Michelle skipped Donald Trump’s second inauguration. She clarified on the April 23 episode of her In Michelle Obama (IMO) podcast that her absence was a personal decision, not a sign of relationship trouble.

“I’m really trying to own my life,” she said. “It took everything in me to stop doing what was expected and start doing what was right for me.” Michelle also spoke about the strength of her relationship with Barack, calling him “brilliant and interesting,” and noting their complementary differences.

Married since 1992, the Obamas share two daughters, Malia (26) and Sasha (23). Since leaving the White House, Michelle has used her platform to address rumors with honesty through her podcast and books.