Michelle Obama Breaks Silence on Divorce Rumors, Sets the Record Straight

Michelle Obama has broken her silence on persistent rumors that she and former President Barack Obama are headed for divorce, firmly denying the speculation in a candid podcast interview.

Speaking with actress Sophia Bush on the *Work in Progress* podcast, the former first lady addressed the chatter that followed her absence from former President Jimmy Carter’s funeral and Donald Trump’s inauguration—decisions that fueled public speculation about the state of her marriage. Barack Obama’s recent comment about being in a “deep deficit” with his wife added to the buzz, but Michelle set the record straight.

“That’s the thing that we as women, I think we struggle with—disappointing people,” Michelle said. “So much so that this year, people couldn’t even fathom that I was making a choice for myself. They had to assume that my husband and I are divorcing.”

She pushed back on the idea that a woman acting independently must be in crisis, saying, “That this couldn’t be a grown woman just making a set of decisions for herself, right? That’s what society does to us.”

Now 61, Michelle said she’s reflecting on how she wants to spend the next phase of her life. “Now is the time for me to start asking myself these hard questions of who do I truly want to be every day,” she said. “And I still find time to give speeches, to be out there in the world, to work on projects. I still care about girls’ education.”

She also touched on the upcoming opening of the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago, acknowledging that she’s involved selectively. “There are certain things I am and am not doing,” she said, adding that when she sets those boundaries, people generally respond with support.

“When I say no, for the most part, people are like, I get it—and I’m OK,” she said.