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Elle
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Elle
There's a Reason Michelle and Barack Obama's First Date Inspired a Movie
Every item on this page was chosen by an ELLE editor. We may earn commission on some of the items you choose to buy. Barack and Michelle Obama may have one of the most famous political marriages of the modern era, thriving through two terms of the White House and over 30 years together. The pair met in 1989 at a Chicago law firm, and it was love at first sight—for Barack. Michelle, then known as Michelle Robinson, took a little convincing to go on that first date, but she had no hesitation when he asked her to marry him in 1992. In the last eight years since Barack Obama ended his two terms as President of the United States, both he and Michelle have remained politically engaged, traveled the world, released books, produced films and podcasts, and stayed on as cultural influencers in almost every corner of the U.S. and many abroad. And they're still going strong, celebrating their long love story every year it grows. Here's their complete relationship timeline so far. Barack began working at the same Chicago law firm as Michelle in 1989, Sidley Austin LLP, and she was actually assigned to be his mentor. He told O, The Oprah Magazine in 2007 that he was immediately taken with her, but she wasn't exactly on the same wavelength. 'In the luckiest break of my life, [Michelle] was assigned to be my adviser, I remember being struck by how tall and beautiful she was,' he explained. 'I asked her out. She refused. I kept asking. She kept refusing.' In her own interview with ABC News in 2008, Michelle implied that the firm thought they'd be a good match, even if just as business associates. 'Because I went to Harvard and he went to Harvard, and the firm thought, 'Oh, we'll hook these two people up,'' she joked. 'Barack, about a month in, asked me out, and I thought 'No way. This is completely tacky.'' Eventually, she did say yes. In her 2018 book Becoming, Michelle described their first date by saying he picked her up in a Datsun with a 'rusted-out, four-inch hole' in the floorboard where she 'could see the pavement rushing beneath us.' But the date went well. 'He showed all the sides—he was hip, cutting edge, cultural, sensitive. The fountain—nice touch. The walk—patient,' Michelle told The Telegraph in 2012. Their first date even became the subject of the 2016 film Southside With You, showing the couple going from a lunch at the Art Institute of Chicago, walking across the city, having Baskin-Robbins ice cream in Hyde Park, and seeing the Spike Lee movie Do The Right Thing. Plus, a very special first kiss: Two years after their first date, they got engaged at Gordon's restaurant in Chicago just after Barack passed the bar exam, per ABC News. 'And then the waiter came over with the dessert and a tray. And there was the ring,' Michelle said. 'And I was completely shocked.' They were wed on Oct. 3, 1992. They wrote their own vows, and Michelle later reflected, 'Barack didn't pledge riches, only a life that would be interesting. On that promise, he delivered.' Their reception was held at the South Shore Cultural Center, and they then took a trip along the California coast for a honeymoon, Brides magazine reported in 2020. They welcomed their first child, Malia, on July 4, 1998. 'Being a mother has been a master class in letting go. Try as we might, there's only so much we can control. And, boy, have I tried—especially at first. As mothers, we just don't want anything or anyone to hurt our babies. But life has other plans. Bruised knees, bumpy roads, and broken hearts are part of the deal. What's both humbled and heartened me is seeing the resiliency of my daughters,' Michelle told Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, in an conversation for British Vogue in 2019. Their second daughter, Sasha, was born on July 10, 2001. In a 2013 interview with Essence, Barack talked about Michelle and the role model she has been as a mom. 'The great thing about the girls is they've got a wonderful role model in their mom,' Barack said. 'They've seen how Michelle and I interact—not only the love but also the respect that I show to their mom. So I think they have pretty high expectations about how relationships should be, and that gives me some confidence about the future. I joke about this stuff sometimes, but the truth is they are smart, steady young women.' Michelle described more about life with both girls in those early years to British Vogue, sharing, 'When Malia and Sasha were newborns, Barack and I could lose hours just watching them sleep. We loved to listen to the little sounds they'd make—especially the way they cooed when they were deep into dreaming.' In 2004, Barack became a U.S. senator for Illinois after serving as state senator for several years. The family became much more public, though they had both already been serving their community for some time. Michelle worked on Barack's campaign while also serving as vice president for community and external affairs at the University of Chicago Hospitals. And yet, that was not the highest echelon of government service the senator would reach by a long shot. In 2008, Barack defeated Republican nominee John McCain to serve as the President of the United States. In January 2009, Barack was sworn into office. The inaugural ball was a hugely celebratory evening, where Michelle wore a gown by Jason Wu. After being introduced by Denzel Washington, Barack asked the crowd, 'First of all, how good looking is my wife?' That night, Jay-Z, Mariah Carey, Alicia Keys, Shakira, Sting, and Faith Hill performed and the couple was photographed slow dancing like they were the only two people in the world. In his 2010 State of the Union address, Barack addressed how popular his wife is. 'If you were going to list the 100 most popular things that I have done as president, being married to Michelle Obama is number one,' he joked. In 2011, in an interview on The Oprah Winfrey Show, he credited Michelle for his success. 'Obviously I couldn't have done anything that I've done without Michelle,' he told Oprah Winfrey. 'Not only has she been a great first lady, she is just my rock. I count on her in so many ways every single day.' Michelle agreed that their partnership was the key to their success, telling Winfrey, 'It has to be a true partnership, and you have to really, really like and respect the person you're married to, because it is a hard road. I mean, that's what I tell young couples. Don't expect it to be easy, melding two lives and trying to raise others, and doing it forever. I mean that's a recipe made for disaster, so there are highs and lows. But if in the end, you can look him in the eye and say, 'I like you.' I stopped believing in love at first sight. I think you go through that wonderful love stage, but when it gets hard, you need a little bit more.' Barack won a second term in 2012, defeating Mitt Romney in the presidential election. At the 2012 Democratic National Convention, Michelle told the audience, 'The truth is, I loved the life we had built for our girls. I deeply loved the man I had built that life with, and I didn't want that to change if he became President. I loved Barack just the way he was.' In March 2015, they were photographed in a behind-the-scenes moment embracing just before videotaping a segment for the 2015 World Expo. At the United State of Women summit in 2016, Michelle said that both she and Barack were ready to leave the White House and have some semblance of a normal life again. 'I want to open my front door without discussing it with anyone—and just walk,' Michelle said, per People. 'I want to go to Target again! I've heard so many things have changed in Target! I tell my friends they're going to have to give me a re-entry training for like, 'OK, what do you do at CVS now? How do you check out?'' That same year, Barack told Jimmy Kimmel on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, 'All the women in my life are looking forward to being able to live a more normal life.' The family left the White House in January 2017, and were seen in Italy, Hawaii, and Necker Island. During his wife's book tour for Becoming, Barack surprised Michelle while she was being interviewed by Valerie Jarrett, bringing a bouquet of pink roses to the stage. 'You don't get this at every show!' Michelle joked. 'This is like—you know when Jay-Z comes out during the Beyoncé concert? Like, 'Crazy in Love?'' Barack asked. 'It's the same thing. It's just a little sample to enhance the concert.' Michelle celebrated Barack for their anniversary. Barack's memoir A Promised Land was dedicated to 'Michelle—my love and life's partner, and Malia and Sasha—whose dazzling light makes everything brighter.' In a September 2020 episode of The Michelle Obama Podcast, Michelle was open about some of the challenges in marriage people don't often discuss. 'There were times that I wanted to push Barack out of the window. And I say that because it's like, you've got to know the feelings will be intense,' she admitted. 'But that doesn't mean you quit. And these periods can last a long time. They can last years.' When talking about meeting someone, the former first lady replied, 'You can't Tinder your way into a long-term relationship. There's no magic way to make that happen except getting the basics of finding somebody, being honest about wanting to be with them, to date them seriously, to plan on making a commitment, to date them, seeing where it goes, and then making it happen.' The couple had their official portraits hung in the White House in 2022. Barack praised Michelle's portrait by Sharon Sprung, saying it encapsulated 'her sheer grace, her intelligence, and the fact that she is fine.' His portrait was painted by Robert McCurdy, and Michelle had previously shared a photo of herself appreciating it. That same year on the Revolt x Michelle Obama special hosted by Angie Martinez, Michelle talked about the frustrations of early marriage, especially just after their children were born. 'People think I'm being catty for saying this; it's like, there were 10 years where I couldn't stand my husband. Ten years! And guess when it happened? When those kids were little,' she explained. 'Little kids have demands. They don't talk. They're poor communicators. They cry all the time. They're irrational. They're needy. And you love them more than anything. And so you can't blame them. So you turn that ire on each other.' Things improved when she realized 'marriage isn't 50-50, ever.' 'But guess what?' she continued. 'Ten years; we've been married 30. I would take 10 bad years over 30—it's just how you look at it. People give up: 'Five years; I can't take it.'' She added that it helps to 'know your person.' 'Do you like him? I mean, you could be mad at him, but do you still look at him and go, 'I'm not happy with you, but I respect you. I don't agree with you, but you're still a kind, smart person.' The feelings are gonna change over time,' she continued. While speaking with host Jay Shetty on the On Purpose podcast, Michelle dispelled the idea that she and Barack were #hashtag couple goals, adding that 'broken things' can happen 'even in the best of marriages.' She wanted to normalize discussing the 'natural, understandable rough patches' that make people 'want to quit.' 'And it's like, 'Oh, no, no, no, no, no. That's not quit-worthy. That's just the nature of things,'' she said. 'That's just the way it goes, but you don't quit on it, you learn from it. That's what sustaining a relationship is—it's the choice to figure it out, not quit when it gets hard.' For her 60th birthday that year, Barack celebrated Michelle in an Instagram post, describing her as his 'better half' and 'one of the funniest, smartest, most beautiful people I know.' He added, '@MichelleObama, you make every day better. I can't wait to see what this new decade brings you.'
Hindustan Times
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Neeraj Ghaywan meets his 'inspiration' Spike Lee; Ishaan Khatter, Zoya Akhtar react. See Pic
Director Neeraj Ghaywan is over the moon as he met his inspiration, none other than Hollywood legend filmmaker Spike Lee, at the Cannes Film Festival. The Masaan filmmaker took to his social media and posted a picture with Spike, and his Bollywood friends definitely could not keep calm. (Also read: Aishwarya Rai touches down in France for Cannes Film Festival with daughter Aaradhya. Watch) Neeraj got a chance to not only meet but also talk with Malcolm X director who has inspired his filmmaking journey. Neeraj took to his Instagram and posted the picture which a caption that read, 'Chatted with @officialspikelee! Do The Right Thing, Malcom X and Blackkklansman have been a huge inspiration to me. His oeuvre is a lesson in talking about oppression through cinema. More power to you.' A post shared by Neeraj Ghaywan (@ As soon as Neeraj dropped his picture with the legendary filmmaker, Bollywood rushed in to comment on the post. Ishaan Khatter, who is starring in Neeraj's Homebound, reacted with fire emojis. Filmmaker Zoya Akhtar also commented with all her love through heart and fire emojis. Actor Richa Chaddha could not believe and commented, "whaaaaaa🔥". Actor Shweta Tripathi, who acted in Neeraj's Masaan, also could not keep calm as she commented, "Shataaaaaaaaaaaap!!! 😍😍😍". Actor Kayoze Irani commented with hearts on the filmmaker's post. Filmmaker Spike Lee's latest film, Highest 2 Lowest, starring Denzel Washington and rapper A$AP Rocky, premiered at the French film festival on May 19. The film is Spike's adaptation of Japanese filmmaker Akira Kurosawa's 1963 crime thriller High and Low. Meanwhile, Neeraj is all set for the world premiere of his film Homebound on May 21 as part of the Un Certain Regard section at Cannes. The film follows the story of two childhood friends in a North Indian village and features Janhvi Kapoor, Ishaan Khatter, and Vishal Jethwa in the lead roles. Dharma Productions, Apoorva Mehta, and Adar Poonawalla produced the project.
Yahoo
21-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Spike Lee says ASAP Rocky & Denzel Washington go head-to-head in ‘Highest 2 Lowest'
There really is no facet of art that ASAP Rocky cannot master. He has proven himself in Hip Hop and fashion for well over a decade, and now it seems as though he is set to experience that same level of adulation as his acting career continues to blossom. The 'Am I Dreaming' hitmaker is starring in Spike Lee's new joint, Highest 2 Lowest, alongside none other than Hollywood icon Denzel Washington. The Do The Right Thing visionary will mark the global premiere on May 19 in France at the Cannes Film Festival. The who's who of the film industry have all walked the red carpet of the prestigious event, so it only makes sense that one of this year's Met Gala (which takes place on May 5) co-chairs will solidify his on-screen legend there too. The movie is a reimagining of the 1963 Japanese crime thriller High to Low. Washington, 70, plays a music mogul and ASAP a 'main role' whose impact on the plot has not been revealed. Lee promises it will be an 'action-packed,' 'nail-biter,' and 'funny AF.' The Morehouse College alum sat down with the '7PM in Brooklyn with Carmelo Anthony' podcast to discuss his latest project. About his decision to cast the dapper rapper, Lee recalled, 'I was looking on some Instagram, and like four or five years ago people [were] saying that ASAP looked like he's Denzel son…. Everybody says it. And then, in the film, we use that.' The multifaceted artist has flexed his acting chops with roles in Bright, Zoolander 2, and Divergent, and, of course, in his long list of music videos where lyrics serve as his muse. Dope director Rick Famuyiwa predicted that Harlem-bred creative could carve out a path in acting when he made his debut in 2015. 'He's a natural,' Famuyiwa told Page Six. 'He has instincts and makes choices like actors who have been doing it a very long time. I always feel like rappers, emcees, musicians, they perform, they have a charisma. It doesn't always translate to film, and many people try to make that transition, but he actually has the goods. If it's something he wants to focus on, which he may not, I think he has a bright future.' With Highest 2 Lowest, he is a different beast, one more than capable of holding his own in the presence of a Hollywood titan like Washington. Lee was almost speechless when he tried to put into words how phenomenal Pretty Flacko was in the production. When he spoke with Deadline at the 2024 Red Seal Film Festival, the director described him as 'dynamite.' However, with the '7PM in Brooklyn' crew, he was bubbling with enthusiasm as he saluted the rising screen gem. 'He [is] fire. I mean, there's some scenes with him and D head-to-head; he ain't backing up. It's like I'm here too,' said Lee, adding, 'So, very, very happy with the way the film turned out and looking forward to sharing it with the world.' You Might Also Like 9 rap songs that namedrop NBA star Ja Morant Doechii tackles mental health head-on in striking 'Anxiety' visual
Yahoo
22-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Why was Spike Lee at St. John's basketball game? Movie director supporting Red Storm
Spotting Spike Lee at a basketball game is not a rare occurrence. However, the famous movie director and producer was not at his usual courtside seat at a New York Knicks game. Instead, Lee was front and center draped in St. John's gear at the Amica Mutual Pavilion in Providence, Rhode Island, on Saturday for a matchup between the No. 2 seeded Red Storm and No. 10 Arkansas. Lee was in attendance to watch the matchup between legendary coaches Rick Pitino and John Calipari but took time to take a photo with McNeese student manager Amir Khan before the game. When Spike Lee meets 'Aura' @amirk_23 at the @MarchMadnessMBB @McNeeseMBB#GeauxPokes #DoTheRightThing — Matthew Bonnette (@WM_Bonnette) March 22, 2025 Here's what you need to know about why Lee was at the St. John's-Arkansas 2025 men's NCAA Tournament second-round game on Saturday: Lee was there to support Pitino and the Red Storm, sporting a red St. John's jacket, a red Yankees cap, and red sneakers. Before the game, in an interview with Fox Sports' Joe Fanta, Lee delivered a statement regarding the run by St. John's in Pitino's second season with the Red Storm. "Coach Pitino has really brought our team back," Lee said. "New York City is all behind him. The Garden is rocking. So, why stop here?" Sitting courtside today in Providence is legendary director Spike Lee 🎥A fixture at Madison Square Garden for Knicks... Posted by WEEI Boston's Sports Original on Saturday, March 22, 2025 Lee attended Morehouse College in Atlanta for his undergraduate degree before attending New York University for his Master of Arts. Lee, despite being born in Atlanta, has deep roots and love for New York City, particularly Brooklyn. He is a superfan of New York sports. He is routinely seen sitting courtside at New York Knicks games. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Why was Spike Lee at St. John's basketball game during March Madness?
