She Took Me Back: ‪The Obamas Address Divorce Rumors

Former United States President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama have publicly addressed the swirling divorce rumours that have followed them for months, putting them to rest with trademark humour and warmth.

The Obamas joined Michelle’s brother Craig Robinson on his podcast, IMO with Michelle Obama and Craig Robinson, on Wednesday.

During the candid family chat, the couple dismissed speculation about their marriage breaking down and offered listeners a peek into their enduring bond.

“She took me back! It was touch and go for a while,” Barack joked, sparking laughter.

Michelle quickly added, “It’s my husband, y’all,” as her brother Craig ribbed them both: “It’s so nice to have you both in the same room together”. To this, Michelle replied, smiling, “I know, because when we aren’t, folks think we’re divorced”.

The light-hearted banter was the first time the Obamas have directly countered the persistent rumours, which intensified earlier this year when Michelle skipped the funeral of former President Jimmy Carter and did not attend President Donald Trump’s second inauguration.

Craig Robinson also recalled how deep the gossip runs — sharing how a stranger once cornered him at an airport asking urgently, “What did he (Barack Obama) do?”

The former President admitted he is usually unaware of the chatter: “These are the kinds of things I just miss. I don’t even know this stuff is going on. Then somebody mentions it and I’m like, what are you talking about?”

Michelle, however, gave a more heartfelt assurance. “There hasn’t been a single moment in our marriage when I thought about giving up on my man. We’ve been through tough times, but we’ve also had a lot of fun and had some amazing adventures. I’ve become a better person because of the man I married,” she added.