Barack and Michelle Obama addressed the viral divorce rumors with humor on Michelle’s podcast Wednesday, as the former president joked that his wife “took me back.”
“She took me back!” Barack Obama quipped on the “IMO” podcast hosted by his wife and her brother Craig Robinson. “It was touch and go for a while.”

Michelle Obama’s absence from high-profile events—such as President Donald Trump’s inauguration and Jimmy Carter’s funeral—fueled online speculation that her marriage to Barack Obama was in trouble. While the former first lady had previously addressed the rumors in separate interviews, this marked the first time the couple publicly discussed them together,
“It’s my husband, ya’ll!” Michelle Obama said to begin the podcast. “When we aren’t [in the same room], folks think we’re divorced.”

Robinson recalled that the rumors had spread so widely, one woman in Kansas even asked him, “What did he do?” referring to the 44th president and speculating he had driven Michelle away. He said she was relieved to hear the rumors were unfounded.
The former president acknowledged that he was not aware of the gossip, stating that he usually avoids being involved in online discussions.