Michelle Obama Addresses Divorce Rumors After Skipping Major Events with Barack: ‘I Made a Choice for Me’

Rumors about a possible split between the former U.S. President Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle Obama, have been swirling after she was noticeably absent from Jimmy Carter’s funeral, a high-profile event that her husband attended solo.

Speculations reached new heights when Michelle also opted out of attending Donald Trump’s second inauguration—a move many critics interpreted as a sign of marital trouble.

But now, the former First Lady is speaking out, shutting down the gossip and reclaiming her personal space. In a candid conversation on Sophia Bush’s “Work in Progress” podcast, Michelle directly addressed the swirling divorce narratives.

She explained that her absence from those events had nothing to do with relationship issues—and everything to do with making intentional choices for herself.

“When I say ‘no,’ most people understand and accept it,” Michelle said. “But as women, we’re often so afraid of letting people down that we’re expected to sacrifice our own decisions for the sake of others.”

She expressed frustration over how quickly people assumed her marriage was in crisis just because she made independent choices. “The idea that I could make personal decisions for myself without it being about my marriage was unthinkable to some,” she noted.

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Michelle argued that society still struggles to accept women, especially public figures, making choices that don’t align with traditional roles or expectations. “We’re constantly made to feel like if our decisions don’t fit the narrative, then something must be wrong,” she added.

Her remarks make it clear: there’s no trouble in paradise—just a strong woman standing her ground and refusing to let the world define her decisions.