She hadn’t made a public appearance in more than two months. So when Michelle Obama stepped onto the stage at SXSW in Austin, Texas, on March 13, she had a lot to say.
“We’re dealing with a lot of uncertainties,” she explained of why she and her brother, Craig, launched their podcast, “IMO” (short for In My Opinion), to offer advice and guidance. “People always ask me and Barack, how did we stay hopeful in, not just the eight years in the White House, but beyond? Because, let me tell you, there was a lot of negative energy flipping our way, a lot of rumors, a lot of gossip….”
And there still is. Despite gushing Instagram posts from her husband for her birthday in January and Valentine’s Day in February, Michelle notably wasn’t by Barack’s side at both Jimmy Carter’s January 9 funeral and Donald Trump’s inauguration on January 20 — sparking speculation that a divorce was imminent.
“The Obamas have been through so much that, at this point, they feel no need to publicly address that kind of talk,” an insider exclusively dishes to In Touch. “The last thing either of them wants to do is try to explain their relationship to people.”
The Real Story About Barack and Michelle Obama
That hasn’t stopped others from trying to make sense of their 32-year marriage.
“I have been hearing this rumor that the Obamas are getting a divorce by reputable people… serious journalists,” Meghan McCain revealed in a January 22 episode of her podcast, while her guest, political reporter Tara Palmieri, added, “I’ve just heard that they live separate lives.”
That part may not be entirely off-base.
“They’ve been married for three decades and don’t need to be on top of each other 24/7,” says the insider, noting that Michelle, 61, has confessed that she and Barack, 63, have weathered difficult patches and worked on their relationship with a couples therapist.
And at SXSW, Michelle admitted that it has been a “rough year,” mostly because of her mother’s passing.
“So, she simply chose to stay out of the spotlight for a while,” explains the insider. “It hasn’t helped that she’s been under a lot of pressure to be more outspoken on current events, but she’s never liked politics — that’s Barack’s thing.”
Her passion has always been empowering and mentoring women and young people. The podcast, in which she and Craig, the director of the National Association of Basketball Coaches, mostly avoid politics, “is right up her alley,” says the insider, noting that she has already made several side comments about life at home with her husband.
“It’s not like she avoids saying his name.”
He hasn’t avoided talking about her, either: Barack wrote that he is “so proud” of her on Instagram on March 18.
“They’ll always have each other’s back,” adds the insider. “They’re confident in their relationship and don’t care what anyone thinks.”
