Michelle Obama is once again under the spotlight after revisiting her controversial 2022 admission that she once “couldn’t stand” former President Barack Obama — a comment that continues to fuel speculation about the true state of their marriage.
The former First Lady opened up during her podcast IMO with Michelle Obama and Craig Robinson, which she co-hosts with her brother. NBA star Dwyane Wade, appearing with his wife Gabrielle Union, asked Michelle about her blunt confession.
“I heard you say that you had 10 years where you didn’t even like Barack,” Wade said. “Where is that coming from?”
Michelle admitted she was simply being “truthful” about the struggles long marriages face. “If you’re married for 30 years, odds are a third of that time isn’t going to be great. Marriage is beautiful, but it’s also difficult. You don’t just walk away during the tough times, or you’ll miss the good times too,” she explained.
Divorce Rumors Sparked Again
Barack and Michelle Obama, married since 1992 with two daughters, Malia (27) and Sasha (24), have long been portrayed as a picture-perfect couple by the media. But earlier this year, Michelle skipped President Donald Trump’s historic inauguration as well as former President Jimmy Carter’s state funeral. Those absences fueled divorce rumors, which intensified when Meghan McCain revealed she had heard from “reputable sources” the Obamas were considering splitting up.
The Obamas have denied the speculation, but Michelle’s repeated remarks about disliking her husband at times have only added fuel to the fire.
The Original Comment That Started It All
Back in December 2022, Michelle stunned a panel discussion audience when she declared:
“There were 10 years where I couldn’t stand my husband. And guess when it happened? When those kids were little.”
That candid confession went viral and has continued to resurface, raising eyebrows even among Democrats who often hold the Obamas up as a symbol of stability.
Fans React Online
Reaction to Michelle’s latest comments has been mixed. Some fans on YouTube praised her for being “honest and real,” while others questioned why she continues to publicly air frustrations with her marriage.
One user wrote: “Michelle is such a beautiful and brilliant woman. I can see why Barack loves her.” Another commenter said: “Her voice is so soothing, it feels real and down to earth.”
But critics say her openness raises serious questions about what’s really going on behind closed doors — and whether the Obama marriage is as strong as Democrats want the public to believe.