Michelle Obama addresses divorce rumors head-on

Michelle Obama firmly denied ongoing rumors about a split from her husband, former President Barack Obama, during a new podcast appearance, calling the speculation overblown and unfounded.

Talk of a possible divorce between the Obamas has swirled for months, despite no clear evidence suggesting trouble. Michelle, 61, had previously dismissed the speculation on the Diary of a CEO podcast, stating that if she and Barack were separating, “everyone would know.”

Still, interest in their personal lives hasn’t let up.

Speaking on NPR’s Wild Card podcast, Michelle confronted the gossip again. She explained how the absence of constant public appearances with Barack has fed assumptions. “The fact that people don’t see me going out on a date with my husband sparks rumors of the end of our marriage,” she said. “I mean—it’s the apocalypse!”

Life after the presidency

The Obamas left the White House in 2017. Since then, they’ve largely stepped back from public political life. Michelle acknowledged the shift, describing how public expectations still shape what they say and do—even years after leaving office.

“It takes a second when you start thinking, well, ‘can you go here? Can you say this?’” she said. “Even in this phase of our lives, when Barack and I say something right or wrong, it does get covered.”

The former First Lady also commented on their relatively quiet social media presence. “You just are not going to know what we’re doing every minute of the day,” she said, adding that their age and interests play a role. “Yes, I guess we’re famous, but we’re 60—we don’t take selfies!”

Michelle and Barack met in 1988 at a Chicago law firm and married four years later. They have two daughters, Malia and Sasha. Barack has previously admitted that his time as President placed strain on their marriage, but both have since spoken openly about working through those challenges.

Public figures often face scrutiny that extends well beyond their careers. For Michelle Obama, the persistent divorce rumors are a reminder of how fame intersects with privacy—even after leaving public office.

“Breaking the habit,” she said, referring to constant documentation of their lives, “is as much of an adjustment.”