Former President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle addressed their relationship during a recent episode of Michelle’s ‘IMO’ podcast.
Months of rumors about their marriage status prompted the couple to speak publicly about their bond.
Questions about their relationship began in 2022 when Michelle revealed she experienced difficult periods with Barack during their daughters’ early years.
Michelle told CBS during that interview: “People think I’m being catty by saying this – it’s like, there were 10 years where I couldn’t stand my husband. And guess when it happened? When those kids were little.”
The 61-year-old former First Lady explained: “And for 10 years while we’re trying to build our careers and, you know, worrying about school and who’s doing what and what, I was like, ‘Ugh, this isn’t even’.”
Barack, now 63, acknowledged his shortcomings the following year. He suggested he had not given enough attention to his wife and daughters Malia, 27, and Sasha, 24, during his time as president.
The former president told a news channel: “Let me just say this: It sure helps to be out of the White House and to have a little more time with her [Michelle].”
Barack continued: “I did not fully appreciate, I think – as engaged of a father as I was – the degree of stress and tension for her knowing that not just me and Michelle were under scrutiny and in this strange environment, but that we were raising our daughters in a kind of situation that just wasn’t normal.”
The couple has faced constant questions about their marriage in recent years. They decided to address these rumors directly during the podcast appearance.
Michelle hosts the IMO podcast with her brother Craig Robinson. The couple appeared together on the show this week.
Robinson started with a playful question: ‘What, you guys like each other?’ This led to a lighthearted exchange between the spouses.
Michelle responded: “Oh, yeah, the rumour mill.”
Barack joined the conversation: “She took me back! It was touch and go for awhile.”
Michelle continued the playful tone, joking that people assume they have divorced when they appear separately in public.
“When we aren’t, folks think we’re divorced,” she told her brother.
The conversation then shifted to a more serious tone. Michelle shared heartfelt thoughts about her husband of more than thirty years.
“There hasn’t been one moment in our marriage where I thought about quitting my man,” she stated. “And we’ve had some really hard times.”
She added: “So we 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.”
The couple married in 1992 and has maintained their relationship through various challenges, including Barack’s presidency and the public scrutiny that followed.
Robinson continued teasing his sister about the public speculation surrounding her marriage. He recalled a moment when a stranger approached him on the street.
The person asked him: ‘What did he do?’ referring to Barack Obama.
Barack claimed he remains unaware of the rumors about his relationship with Michelle. He expressed surprise at the ongoing speculation.
“These are the kinds of things that I just miss, right?” Barack said during the podcast conversation.
The former president added: “So I don’t even know this stuff’s going on. And then somebody will mention it to me and I’m all like, ‘What are you talking about?’”
Barack suggested he stays disconnected from social media chatter and gossip about his personal life. He appeared genuinely surprised when people inform him about the rumors.
The couple’s candid discussion on the podcast aimed to address persistent questions about their marriage. Their lighthearted approach showed they can laugh about the speculation while affirming their commitment to each other.
Michelle and Barack demonstrated their strong bond through humor and honest conversation. They used the platform to set the record straight about their relationship status.
The podcast appearance allowed them to control the narrative about their marriage. They chose to address the rumors directly rather than let speculation continue without response.
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