Former President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama are taking a proactive approach to address swirling rumors about their marriage in a recent episode of her podcast, "IMO with Michelle Obama and Craig Robinson," released on Wednesday. During the podcast, Barack Obama humorously remarked, “She took me back!” referring to their relationship dynamics. He added, “It was touch and go for a while,” which hints at the speculation surrounding the former first couple's marriage.
In recent months, there has been rampant speculation regarding the stability of the Obama marriage. This speculation intensified after several public appearances where Michelle Obama was noticeably absent, including the inauguration of President Donald Trump in January. During the podcast, Craig Robinson, who is also Michelle Obama's brother, remarked, “It’s so nice to have you both in the same room together.” To this, Michelle responded candidly, “I know because when we aren’t, folks think we’re divorced.”
Robinson recounted an incident at an airport where a woman approached him, inquiring about the couple's relationship status, asking, “‘What did he do?’” Barack Obama expressed his bewilderment, saying, “I don’t even know this stuff’s going on and then somebody will mention it to me and I’m like, what are you talking about?” This exchange highlights the absurdity of the rumors that have taken on a life of their own.
Michelle Obama emphasized her commitment to their marriage, stating, “There hasn’t been one moment in our marriage where I’ve thought about quitting on my man. And we’ve had some really hard times and we’ve had a lot of fun times, a lot of adventures, and I have become a better person because of the man I’m married to.” This statement serves to reassure fans and the public that their relationship remains strong despite external speculation.
Earlier this year, the former first lady had already addressed some of the rumors regarding her marriage and her choice to skip Trump’s inauguration. She explained, “My decision to skip the inauguration, what people don’t realize — or my decision to make choices at the beginning of this year that suited me — were met with such ridicule and criticism. People couldn’t believe that I was saying no for any other reason than they had to assume that my marriage was falling apart.”
In addition to discussing their marriage, Barack Obama shared his thoughts on the challenges of raising boys in today’s society. He reflected on how he believes he would have faced more difficulties raising a son compared to daughters, saying, “I think I might have been more judgmental, harder.” He expressed concerns that the lack of a father figure can complicate father-son relationships, particularly when one has not experienced this dynamic themselves.
Both Obamas underscored the importance of nurturing young men and the shifting political landscape impacting them. Barack Obama noted the concerning trend of young men feeling disconnected and unrecognized, suggesting that this sentiment can lead to harmful political ideologies. He stated, “If you’re not thinking about what’s happening to boys and how they are being raised, then that can actually hurt women.”
Barack Obama continued, “That then makes them more interested in appeals by folks who say, ‘You know what, the reason you don’t feel respected is because women have been doing this or this group has been doing this or that group’s been doing this.’ And that is not a healthy place to be.” He emphasized that while it is crucial to invest in girls to ensure equality, there has been a lack of intentional efforts aimed at supporting boys, a gap he considers a significant oversight.
The Obamas, who have been married since 1992 and are parents to two daughters, Malia and Sasha, continue to demonstrate their commitment to family values and community engagement through their public discussions.
