Michelle Obama has publicly addressed widespread speculation about her marriage to former President Barack Obama, firmly shutting down persistent rumors of an impending divorce. In a candid and wide-ranging conversation with actress Sophia Bush on the *Work in Progress* podcast, released Tuesday, the former first lady opened up about her recent decisions, her evolving sense of self, and the societal pressures women face when they prioritize their own well-being.
The speculation surrounding the Obamas’ relationship had been fueled in part by Michelle’s absence from two high-profile political events earlier this year—President Jimmy Carter’s January 9 funeral and the January 20 inauguration of President Donald Trump. Adding fuel to the fire, Barack Obama recently acknowledged that he was in a “deep deficit” with his wife, a comment interpreted by some as a sign of marital strain.
But Michelle set the record straight: her choices had nothing to do with relationship issues and everything to do with self-care and autonomy.
“That’s the thing that we as women, I think we struggle with—disappointing people,” she said during the interview. “So much so that this year, people couldn’t even fathom that I was making a choice for myself. They had to assume that my husband and I are divorcing.”
She continued, “That this couldn’t be a grown woman just making a set of decisions for herself, right? That’s what society does to us.”
Michelle Obama turned 61 on January 17 and said that milestone had prompted deep personal reflection on how she wants to spend her next chapter. “Now is the time for me to start asking myself these hard questions: Who do I truly want to be every day?” she said. “And that looks like whatever I want it to look like.”
Though absent from recent ceremonial events, Michelle noted that she is still actively engaged in public life. “I still find time to give speeches, to be out there in the world, to work on projects,” she said. “I still care about girls’ education. And you know, the library is opening in a year from now.”
She was referring to the Obama Presidential Center, currently under construction in Chicago’s South Side. Michelle acknowledged she has taken a more limited role in the project than some might expect. “There are certain things I am and am not doing,” she said, adding that when she declines involvement, people are generally respectful and understanding.
Michelle also touched on her appearance at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago last August, where she and her husband campaigned for Vice President Kamala Harris. She admitted it was a challenging decision to participate, as she was still grieving the death of her mother, Marian Robinson, who passed away in May 2024.
In the months that followed, Michelle made selective campaign appearances for Harris but chose not to travel to Washington for Carter’s funeral or Trump’s inauguration. Advisers told CNN that her absence from Carter’s memorial was due to “scheduling conflicts,” and that she was on an extended vacation in Hawaii at the time—an extended break that also coincided with her birthday.
The timing, however, sparked further public curiosity. On January 17, Barack Obama posted a photo of the two together to mark her birthday. Yet the unflattering nature of the image led to renewed social media chatter about the state of their relationship.
The couple also found themselves battling salacious gossip involving actress Jennifer Aniston. InTouch magazine had published an unfounded story in August alleging an affair between Barack Obama and Aniston, which gained enough traction to be mentioned by late-night host Jimmy Kimmel in October. Aniston laughed off the rumor on *Jimmy Kimmel Live*, calling it “absolutely untrue” and joking, “I was not mad at it.”
“I’ve met him once,” Aniston added, “I know Michelle more than him.” Kimmel quipped in response, “Is there a truth about you and Michelle that we should know?” To which Aniston replied, “That is not true.”
Despite the tabloid noise and social media speculation, Michelle Obama made it clear in her podcast appearance that her recent decisions have been about reclaiming agency and prioritizing peace in this next phase of her life. “If it doesn’t fit into the stereotype of what people think we should do, then it gets labeled as something negative and horrible,” she said. “But this is my life. And I get to choose.”
With the Obama Presidential Center nearing completion and Michelle remaining an influential voice in civic life, the former first lady appears focused not on the rumors—but on writing her own story, on her own terms.
