Former First Lady Michelle Obama believes her newfound “independence” could be the source of divorce rumours about her and her husband, Barack Obama.
Appearing on the podcast Work in Progress on Tuesday, April 8, she discussed how her life has changed since she left the White House.
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Asked how her social life had been since she stopped being First Lady, she noted: “It is whatever I want…It’s the first time in my life all of my choices are for me.”
She admitted to making excuses in the past due to her role as a public figure and as a mother, but that was not the case anymore.
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“Now, you know, I can’t blame my decisions and indecisions on anyone other than me…I think if I’m honest with myself, I could have made a lot of these decisions years ago. But I didn’t give myself that freedom,” she noted.
Mrs Obama maintained that constant public scrutiny led to gossip and speculation about the state of her marriage.
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“That’s the thing that we as women struggle with — disappointing people. I mean, so much so that this year, people couldn’t even fathom that I was choosing myself. That they had to assume that my husband and I are divorcing,” she stated.
In February this year, rumour started spreading that Mr and Mrs Obama were getting ready for divorce.
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Concerns over the Obamas’ marriage had been mounting for years, but recent events have brought up fresh issues. “Barack and Michelle are both prepared to move on,” a person close to the couple had disclosed.
The conjecture around their relationship has been heightened by Michelle’s conspicuous absence from the burial services for former President Jimmy Carter.
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According to sources, she decided to prolong her Hawaii vacation rather than go home for the event. Barack had to attend President Trump’s inauguration alone, surrounded by other dignitaries and couples because Michelle was not present.
Their divorce was expected to go viral because the couple had a combined worth of over $70 million and no prenuptial agreement in place.
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The Obamas started their podcasts, landed a rumored $60 million deal for their autobiographies, and started an entertainment firm to create content for Netflix. At an estimated $20 million, the pair also own a sizable real estate portfolio.
