Michelle Obama says she is 'glad' she never had a son because he would have turned out like Obama - as marriage rumours refuse to go away
Michelle Obama has said she is 'glad' she never had a son because he would have turned out like her husband - as their unhappy marriage rumours refuse to go away.
The former First Lady, 61, shares daughters Sasha, 24, and Malia, 26, with 44th US president Barack Obama, 63, who was in office from 2009 to 2017.
Speaking on her podcast IMO, which she co-hosts with her brother Craig Robinson, she said on Wednesday: 'I'm so glad I didn't have a son because he would have been a Barack Obama.'
Guest Angie Martinez, an American radio presenter, there to help out on the agony aunt show, replied: 'Baby Barack. It would have been amazing.'
But Mrs Obama soon countered, The Telegraph reports: 'No, I would've felt for him.'
It comes as the couple, who tied the knot in 1992 after meeting as fellow attorneys at a Chicago law firm in 1989, face speculation their marriage is on the rocks - which Mrs Obama has vehemently denied.
The rumours began after Mr Obama attended several high-profile events - including former president Jimmy Carter's funeral and President Donald Trump's inauguration, both in January - without his wife.
And the Daily Mail revealed exclusively yesterday Mrs Obama has jetted off on a getaway to the Spanish island of Mallorca without her husband.
Speaking on her podcast IMO (pictured), which she co-hosts with her brother Craig Robinson (centre, with guest Angie Martinez, left, and Mrs Obama, right), she said on Wednesday: 'I'm so glad I didn't have a son because he would have been a Barack Obama'
Elsewhere in Wednesday's podcast episode, she appeared to take another swipe at her husband too as she mentioned his long-time hobby of playing golf.
The author and former attorney began: 'Parenting is like fly-fishing.
'Never been fly fishing but from what I've seen about it, it's all in the wrist, it's a very delicate balance... it's like nothing works the same way every time.'
Laughing, she finished, somewhat pointedly: 'It's elegance, right? It's not dunk and drop and grab... We should go fly fishing. Better than golfing.'
Mrs Obama finally addressed long-running speculation about her 33-year marriage head-on on an episode of celebrity interview podcast The Diary of a CEO in May.
She told host and entrepreneur Steven Bartlett: 'If I were having problems with my husband, everybody would know about it.'
And she has spoken out on the matter on her own podcast too, praising Mr Obama as a 'tremendous father' during an episode this month.
She said even when he was president, he left the job at the door whenever he talked to his daughters, determined to be there for them in their formative years.
The couple were also spotted out on a date night in New York City last month, after having also been seen going out to dinner in Washington DC in April.
And Mrs Obama told The Jay Shetty Podcast last month that though her marriage can be 'hard', 'I wouldn't trade it', calling her husband, 'as the young people say... my person'.
She continued on the British mental health show: 'The beauty of my husband and our partnership is that neither one of us was ever really, ever going to quit at it, because that's not who we are.
'And I know that about him. He knows that about me.'
In April, Mrs Obama also told American actress Sophia Bush on her celebrity interview podcast Work In Progress: 'We as women, I think we struggle with, like disappointing people.
'So much so that this year people were, they couldn't even fathom that I was making a choice for myself, that they had to assume that my husband and I are divorcing... that's what society does to us.'
But despite these denials, the divorce rumours are proving hard to shake, with speculation reignited as she travels to Spain without her husband in tow this week.
Mrs Obama was pictured yesterday with her daughters and James Costos, 62, former US ambassador to Spain and his partner Michael Smith, 62, the Obamas' longtime interior designer and former White House decorator‑in‑chief.
The group were seen enjoying a meal at The Lobster Club in the Puerto Portals marina - with Mr Obama conspicuously not in attendance.
Mr Smith and Mr Costos are long-time friends of the Obamas and have hosted the family many times at their Rancho Mirage home in Palm Springs, California.
It followed the former First Lady's admission she does not like being referred to as Mrs Obama.
She shared her reservations when appearing on the Las Culturistas podcast, hosted by American comedians Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang, with her brother earlier this week.
Mr Rogers revealed before they began recording, she had asked him to just be called 'Michelle' instead of 'Mrs Obama'.
He began the episode of the pop culture podcast: 'Earlier I was like, "Thank you so much, Mrs Obama," and you said, "Michelle,".'
'I did say that,' she responded, laughing, 'We cannot have a real conversation if you're saying, "Mrs Obama", that's too many syllables.'
Mr Rogers then asked if she is usually quick to 'put down that shield for people,' and Mrs Obama admitted she was constantly trying to appear less intimidating.
Despite Mrs Obama's denials, the divorce rumours are proving hard to shake, with speculation reignited as she travels to Spain without her husband in tow this week. Pictured: The Obamas on their wedding day in October 1992
'I was trying to do that when I was First Lady because I just think... I am not that position. I am Michelle', she explained.
She said she lets children call her Mrs Obama 'because they're learning' - but does not like adults saying it, especially when she is trying to connect to them.
'I'm always trying to break down that wall to say, "We're just all here"', she continued. 'And the first thing to do is like, let's drop that title, that's a little heavy.'
The former First Lady said people calling her Mrs Obama 'changes the dynamic': 'So, I'm Michelle.'
Her brother Mr Robinson then quipped: 'I know what we call her - Your Highness.'
'Well, it's great to be on a first name basis', host Mr Rogers joked.
The Obamas' eldest daughter Malia, an aspiring filmmaker, has also dropped her famous surname and is now going by Malia Ann professionally.
Michelle has publicly supported Malia's decision, emphasising she wants her daughter to 'carve her own path' and 'make her way'.
Other events of recent months that have fuelled speculation about the Obamas' marriage include Mrs Obama missing the couple's usual courtside seats at the NBA All-Stars basketball game in March.
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