Grok says:
The rumors kicked into high gear recently due to Michelle’s absence from notable events like Jimmy Carter’s funeral and Donald Trump’s inauguration in early 2025, while Barack attended solo. His courtside appearance at an NBA game in Los Angeles on March 12, 2025, without her added fuel to the fire, as reported by outlets like the Daily Mail. Gossip has also been stoked by tabloids like In Touch, which in August 2024 spun wild tales of betrayal involving Barack and Jennifer Aniston (who laughed it off on Jimmy Kimmel Live! in late 2024, saying she barely knows him). Posts on X have echoed these sentiments, with some users claiming Michelle’s absences signal a split, though none offer hard proof.
On the flip side, the Obamas have pushed back subtly but consistently. Barack’s Valentine’s Day 2025 post on X—“Thirty-two years together and you still take my breath away”—paired with a smiling couple photo, and Michelle’s reciprocal Instagram Story calling him “my rock,” suggest they’re still united. Their 32nd anniversary posts in October 2024 were similarly affectionate. Michelle’s new podcast, IMO with Michelle Obama and Craig Robinson, launched March 12, 2025, doesn’t directly address divorce rumors but includes her joking about Barack’s quirks—like his tardiness—while reflecting on their White House years, per reviews from The New York Times and Vanity Fair. She’s also spoken broadly about weathering gossip, as noted in a March 17, 2025, The Root piece, without confirming any rift.
The media’s take splits along predictable lines: the Daily Mail and pundits like Maureen Callahan (March 12, 2025) lean into the drama, suggesting Michelle’s podcast hints at strife, while InStyle (March 15, 2025) and others frame it as the Obamas shrugging off noise as they always have.
