Michelle Obama sets the record straight on divorce rumors in new podcast

In a newly launched podcast with her brother, former First Lady Michelle Obama opened up about her personal life, directly addressing ongoing divorce rumors. As reported by The New York Times, the show, titled IMO, debuted on Wednesday and gave listeners a preview of topics the siblings will discuss, including Michelle’s marriage, which has been the subject of widespread speculation.

“I couldn’t have handled eight years in the White House without my big brother,” Michelle shared, referring to her time as First Lady from 2009 to 2017.

She acknowledged that being married to the President of the United States was never something they anticipated, even though they always knew Barack was driven and intelligent.

The podcast will feature the siblings responding to audience questions about life challenges—ranging from navigating marriage and raising children to dealing with friendships or exploring the dating world. Michelle admitted she has never liked politics and revealed it was her brother, Craig Robinson, who persuaded her to back Barack’s presidential campaign.

The show will also touch on Craig’s past divorce and his current marriage to Kelly McCrum Robinson, while addressing rumors about Michelle and Barack’s relationship. These rumors became so widespread that some outlets claimed Barack was romantically involved with actress Jennifer Aniston, who later denied the claim on Jimmy Kimmel Live, stating she had only met him once.

Michelle and Craig plan to invite various celebrity guests, including some who appeared on Michelle’s previous podcast, such as director Tyler Perry, along with new names like Seth Rogen and Keke Palmer. On the same day as the podcast’s launch, Michelle also appeared on Work in Progress, a podcast hosted by Sophia Bush. There, she discussed adjusting to life as an empty nester, describing it as liberating and saying she now makes decisions solely for herself.

She also addressed societal expectations for women, stating that when women choose to prioritize themselves, they often face judgment. “This year, people couldn’t believe I was making a choice for myself. Instead, they assumed Barack and I were splitting up,” Michelle said. Her absence from certain high-profile events like Jimmy Carter’s funeral and Donald Trump’s inauguration fueled the speculation.