I assume you’ve seen these rumors that Barack and Michelle Obama are getting a divorce, but where did they actually come from? Well, Michelle Obama herself has a theory, which she explained in a recent podcast interview. And, before you ask, no, the rumors are not true.
Speaking to Sophia Bush on the Work in Progress podcast, Obama said that, these days, she’s finally allowing herself the freedom to set her own calendar. Sometimes that means saying no to certain political appearances (such as a new president’s inauguration, for example) that are often expected of former first ladies, and letting the former president attend these events solo. Unfortunately, her absence was interpreted by some as a signal that she and her husband’s marriage was suffering.
“As women, I think we struggle with, like, disappointing people,” Obama said. “I mean, so much so that this year people…couldn’t even fathom that I was making a choice for myself that they had to assume that my husband and I are divorcing.”
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
But the truth is simply that Michelle Obama is just making the choices that are best for her. “I could have made a lot of these decisions years ago, but I didn’t give myself that freedom,” she explained on the pod. This year, she said, “was a real big example of me, myself, looking at something that I was supposed to do—you know, without naming names—and I chose to do what was best for me, not what I had to do, not what I thought other people wanted me to do.” Presumably, Obama was referring to skipping Donald Trump’s inauguration as well as President Jimmy Carter’s state funeral.
This explanation tracks with what was reported after the inauguration, when a source told People that Michelle Obama is simply doing what’s best for herself, now. “She served in the public eye and did all the public good that she could for eight years as first lady. You’ll see her when she has a project or cause to promote but she doesn’t feel the need to be a public figure anymore,” the source said.
Content shared from www.glamour.com.
