Barack and Michelle Obama have been the subject of divorce rumors for some time.

Michelle, however, used Wednesday’s occasion to not only directly address these accusations but also to highlight the irrational demands society has on women.

Mother and public figure

Michelle Obama appeared as a guest on Sophia Bush’s podcast, Work in Progress, on Wednesday. Nine minutes into the conversation, the former First Lady gave a very intimate account of how her life has changed since her daughters, Sasha (age 23) and Malia (age 26), moved out.

She disclosed that the straightforward yet freeing aspect of being an “empty nester” is her favorite aspect:

“[Life] is whatever I want, Sophia, It’s whatever I want,” she said with a joyful tone.

“It’s the first time in my life all of my choices are for me.”

Obama has long juggled the hard responsibilities of being a mother, public person, and partner, frequently putting her children’s needs and her husband Barack Obama’s profession ahead of her own.

However, now that her family has grown and she is in a new phase of her personal life, she is taking back control.

But having the autonomy to choose for oneself wasn’t always simple, especially for a woman. Obama described the difficulty many women encounter in granting themselves the right to put their own needs first.

“The interesting thing is that, when I say ‘no,’ for the most part people are like, ‘I get it.’ And I’m OK,” Michelle explained.

Then, as she discussed public opinion and the criticism that occasionally results from claiming her independence, her tone changed from humorous to somber.

“That’s the thing that we as women, I think… we struggle with disappointing people. I mean, so much so, that this year people were… they couldn’t even fathom that I was making a choice for myself that they had to assume that my husband and I are divorcing.”

Aniston denied the rumors

Concerns about the durability of the Obamas’ marriage initially surfaced when Michelle missed Donald Trump’s inauguration and Jimmy Carter’s burial, which was held on January 9, 2025, according to sources—wild claims, certainly, but reports nonetheless.

Even while Obama did not specify which particular choice set off the divorce rumors, her husband’s attendance at both President Trump’s inauguration and President Jimmy Carter’s burial fueled enough suspicions to make headlines.

Vanity Fair connected the claims to an article in In Touch Weekly in January that said actress Jennifer Aniston was trying to win Barack Obama’s heart. Aniston swiftly refuted the report.