Barack Obama, Michelle Share Update on Divorce Rumors—'Hard Times'
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Former President Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle Obama, shared an update on divorce rumors during a new episode of her podcast.
Newsweek reached out to the Obamas' representative via email for comment on Wednesday.
The Context
Barack Obama was the 44th President of the United States and served two terms from 2009 until 2017.
The former president, 63, and former first lady, 61, got married on October 3, 1992 and share two children together: daughters Malia Obama, 27, and Sasha Obama, 24.
At the start of this year, Michelle Obama did not attend former President Jimmy Carter's state funeral, and she skipped out on President Donald Trump's inauguration, too.
Meghan McCain—the daughter of the late Republican Senator John McCain—added fuel to the fire on her Citizen McCain podcast, claiming she heard rumors that they were splitting up "by reputable people."
What To Know
On Wednesday's episode of IMO with Michelle Obama and Craig Robinson—which Michelle Obama co-hosts with her older brother, Craig Robinson—Barack Obama appeared as a guest, and the spouses addressed their relationship.
President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama greet parents, trick-or-treaters and local school children at the north portico of the White House in Washington, D.C., during a Halloween celebration on October 31, 2009.
President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama greet parents, trick-or-treaters and local school children at the north portico of the White House in Washington, D.C., during a Halloween celebration on October 31, 2009.
Kristoffer Tripplaar-Pool/Getty Images
"Welcome to IMO, look at you," Michelle Obama said to her husband, to which Robinson teased: "Wait, you guys like each other?"
"Oh yeah really, huh. That's the rumor mill," the Becoming author replied. "It's my husband, y'all."
"She took me back!" Barack Obama joked, which prompted his wife to say: "Now don't start."
"It was touch and go for a while," the politician playfully added.
As the trio laughed, Robinson chimed in: "It's so nice to have you both in the same room."
"I know because when we aren't, folks think we're divorced," Michelle Obama said.
Later on in the podcast, she further shut down any rumors.
"There hasn't been one moment in our marriage where I've thought about quitting my man, and we've had some really hard times," the attorney shared. "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."
In response, Barack Obama told her not to "make me cry right at the beginning of the show."
"Don't let me start tearing up now," he said.
This isn't the first time Michelle Obama has touched on split rumors. In June, she pushed back on speculation during NPR's Wild Card with Rachel Martin.
"It's like, OK, so we don't Instagram every minute of our lives," the Harvard Law School graduate said. "We are 60. We're 60, y'all. We just, you just are not gonna know what we're doing every minute of the day, you know?"
What People Are Saying
IMO teased the Barack Obama episode on Tuesday with a video posted to Instagram. In the comments, fans shared their excitement for the conversation.
Black Panther actor Ricky Barksdale wrote in a note with 6,964 likes: "Hey man we need you back here, this babysitter is crazy."
HBCU Symphony founder, who goes by @sirthebaptist on Instagram, said in a message: "Man I miss this guy being in charge of America."
@_fabulousray shared in a reply with 56 likes: "I AMMMMMMMM SO ELATEDDDDDDDDD THAT OUR FOREVER PRESIDENT WILL FINALLLLLLLLY BE ON THE @imopodcasts. I have been waiting on his appearance since this podcast launched 4 months ago! God really does answers prayers. I am ready to see the swag and hear the laughter and jokes all while gaining more wisdom. I love y'all so much."
@thenajahall remarked: "Mom and Dad!!!"
@gemstone2014 added: "Very good conversation."
What Happens Next
IMO with Michelle Obama and Craig Robinson airs new episodes on Wednesdays on platforms like Spotify, YouTube and Apple Podcasts.
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