Former US First Lady Michelle Obama responded to rumors of her and her husband, former US President Barack Obama, getting a divorce. Michelle Obama stated that she decided to take a step back from the spotlight, causing her to miss a few events. Barack Obama attending some official events alone fueled the separation rumors. Speaking on Sophia Bush’s “Work in Progress” podcast, Michelle Obama said that stepping back created a perception of marital issues and mentioned: “The interesting thing is that when I say ‘no,’ most people say ‘I understand,’ but as women, we struggle with this. So much so that people couldn’t even imagine that I could be making a choice for myself, and thus, assumed we were getting divorced.” Michelle Obama jokingly dismissed the divorce rumors, saying she makes decisions for herself as an adult woman. Michelle Obama said, “Eventually, we start saying, ‘What am I doing? Who am I doing this for?’ And if it doesn’t fit the mold people have created for what we’re supposed to do, it’s labeled as negative and terrible.” “I ACT OUT OF GUILT LIKE EVERY WOMAN”

Michelle, stating that she gained more freedom after their White House terms and as their daughters grew up, mentioned that she now has the chance to manage her own time. She said, “I can look at my calendar, this year I did this. It was actually a great example of me doing something for myself. When I thought I needed to do something, I chose what was best for myself. It was a really important test for me, just as a woman, as an independent person. Because like every woman, I act out of guilt.” These statements came after Michelle Obama did not attend important events such as President Trump’s inauguration and President Jimmy Carter’s funeral, where her husband attended alone. “I NEGLECTED MY HUSBAND”

Michelle not attending these events strengthened the divorce rumors. Former President Barack Obama recently admitted, “I neglected my wife,” and said, “Sometimes I try to make up for it by doing fun things.”