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After months of swirling rumours suggesting their marriage was on the rocks, Barack and Michelle Obama have addressed the speculation head-on, and set the record straight in their usual candid, humorous style.
The former President of the United States made a guest appearance this week on his wife Michelle’s hit podcast, IMO, which she co-hosts with her brother Craig Robinson. And it didn’t take long before the elephant in the room, the split rumours, was tackled.
As Barack joined the chat, Craig teased: “What, you guys like each other?”, a nod to the endless tabloid speculation that the Obamas have quietly separated.
Michelle quipped: “Oh yeah, the rumour mill,” rolling her eyes as Barack added: “She took me back! It was touch and go for a while.”
The couple’s easy banter and laughter made it clear there was no truth to the stories.
Michelle went on to reflect more seriously about the state of their 31-year marriage, telling listeners:
“There hasn’t been one moment in our marriage where I thought about quitting my man.”
“We’ve had some really hard times. But we’ve also 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.”
She also joked that when she and Barack are not spotted in public together for a while, people automatically assume the worst: “It’s nice to just be in the same room. When we aren’t, folks think we’re divorced.”
No strangers to scrutiny
The Obamas have spent more than 15 years in the public eye since Barack’s rise to the presidency in 2008, and they are no strangers to media scrutiny, particularly when it comes to their marriage.
In her best-selling memoir Becoming, Michelle has previously spoken candidly about the pressures they faced, especially during their time in the White House, where they juggled raising two young daughters under the glare of the world’s media.
She revealed the couple even sought marriage counselling at one point, which she described as one of the best decisions they ever made.
Stronger than ever
Fans of the power couple were quick to flood social media with messages of support after the podcast aired. One listener posted: “You two are such an inspiration. Love that you’re keeping it real!”
Another added: “Every marriage has ups and downs. What matters is how you face them, and the Obamas clearly do it with grace and humour.”
For now, it seems the First Couple are continuing to navigate life after politics, and the endless attention it brings, with the same warmth and resilience that first won them millions of admirers.
