Speculation arose earlier this year when Barack Obama attended former President Jimmy Carter’s funeral alone, without Michelle at his side. The rumors only grew louder days later when Michelle confirmed she would not be attending Donald Trump’s second inauguration—sparking questions about whether the famously tight-knit couple was going through a rough patch.
Now, Michelle is clearing the air. In a recent episode of Work in Progress with Sophia Bush, the former First Lady addressed the whispers head-on, explaining that her decision to skip certain public events had nothing to do with problems in her marriage.
“When I say ‘no,’ most people understand. But some assume something’s wrong—like Barack and I are headed for divorce,” she said. “It’s hard for people to grasp that I might simply be making choices based on what’s best for me.”
She also discussed the unrealistic expectations society often places on women, saying, “Women aren’t always given space to act in their own self-interest. If our choices don’t match the story others expect, people assume the worst.”
Michelle’s comments come shortly after Barack opened up about the strain his presidency once put on their marriage. While speaking at Hamilton College, the former president admitted, “I owed my wife a lot. I’ve been trying to make it up to her with fun little things here and there.”