Michelle Obama issued a warning to listeners about her marriage with former President Barack Obama on a new episode of IMO with Michelle Obama and Craig Robinson.
Newsweek reached out to Barack Obama’s representative via email for comment on Wednesday.
Why It Matters
Michelle Obama’s candid conversations about her marriage offer rare insight into the private realities faced by high-profile public figures. The discussion comes amid ongoing relationship rumors regarding her and Barack Obama, 64, and reflects wider issues about mental health, marriage resilience and the pressures of life in the public spotlight.
What To Know
On the October 1 episode of IMO—which Michelle Obama co-hosts with her older brother, Craig Robinson—the siblings discussed the realities of marriage, emphasizing that even strong relationships require work and support.
“I try to be honest with the world, with the people who follow me and Barack, to our girls, because, you know, people look at our marriage as the ideal,” the former first lady—who shares daughters Malia Obama, 27, and Sasha Obama, 24, with Barack Obama—said. “In Instagram world, you see two loving people doing a hard thing in the world, always on stage, giving each other a hug after a big speech and making it look easy.”
She continued: “A lot of young people could look at that and go, ‘I want a marriage like Michelle and Barack.’ And it’s like, well, let me talk about what marriage is, because it’s even when it looks good, even when it’s great, it’s hard. And so I think it’s important because it’s very easy to quit on a marriage.”
Earlier this year, the Obamas were the subject of divorce rumors when she skipped out on former President Jimmy Carter’s state funeral and announced soon after that she would also not be joining her husband at President Donald Trump’s second inauguration. Meghan McCain later said on her podcast that she heard rumors the couple was splitting up “by reputable people.” The pair has since denied those claims.
During Wednesday’s show, Michelle Obama noted that she and her husband have “done couples therapy.”
“Even in the best marriages, getting help, having periods where you need support, you need to think things through, is a normal part of making it through,” she shared.
The Becoming author added that “something that comes with fame that people don’t appreciate” is the “loss of anonymity.”
“It’s hard for Barack and I to just be in the world unobserved,” the 61-year-old said. “As a couple, so much of your interaction just happens because you two are experiencing the world together, sitting in a park and watching life go by, stopping at a cafe and getting a cup of coffee.”
What People Are Saying
Former IMO guest Taraji P. Henson, who appeared on the podcast in April, observed the pressures faced by women in the spotlight: “We’re shock absorbers. And that’s exhausting, and it’s not healthy. You have had to be shock absorbers for your husband, for your children, for your mom, for your family, your loved ones, because of where you were sitting in the public eye. That’s not fair to you. When do you ever get to live for you? I applaud you. I’m happy that you are taking care of yourself in the way that you need to.”
Michelle Obama previously spoke out about marriage difficulties, saying on Revolt TV in 2022: “There were 10 years where I couldn’t stand my husband. And guess when it happened? When those kids were little.”
Barack Obama playfully joked about divorce rumors during an appearance on IMO in July: “It was touch and go for a while.”
What Happens Next
The Obamas’ 33-year wedding anniversary is on Friday, October 3.
IMO with Michelle Obama and Craig Robinson airs new episodes on Wednesdays on platforms like Spotify, YouTube and Apple Podcasts.