Michelle Obama hits back at divorce rumors that started when she began 'making choices' for herself

WASHINGTON, DC: Michelle Obama shares how her independence after leaving the White House has sparked rumors surrounding her marriage.

In a new podcast interview, the former first lady addressed speculation about her marriage to Barack Obama and how public scrutiny clashed with her decision to prioritize herself for the first time.

Michelle Obama shuts down divorce rumors with Barack Obama

On a new episode of 'Work in Progress', the iHeartRadio podcast hosted by Sophia Bush, Michelle Obama opened up about the changes in her life since leaving the White House and becoming an empty nester.

"I want to know what your life and your social life looks like right now," Bush, 42, asked.

"It is whatever I want, Sophia, it's whatever I want," Michelle, 61, replied. "It's the first time in my life all of my choices are for me."

She said she used to make decisions around her roles as a mother to Sasha and Malia and as the first lady.

Michelle added, "I have to make sure the girls are okay, or my husband's president, so I can't do that," noting how these were reasons she gave herself in the past.

"Now, you know, I can't blame my decisions and indecisions on anyone other than me," she continued. "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."

Michelle spoke about how her newfound freedom led to speculation about the state of her marriage.

"That's the thing that we as women struggle with — disappointing people," she said, as per People.

"I mean, so much so that this year people couldn't even fathom that I was making a choice for myself. That they had to assume that my husband and I are divorcing," she continued.

"This couldn't be a grown woman just making a set of decisions herself, right? But that's what society does to us," she said. "We start actually going, what am I? What am I doing? What am I doing this for? And if it doesn't fit into the sort of stereotype of what people think we should do, then it gets labeled as something negative and horrible."

Jennifer Aniston jokes about Barack Obama dating rumors

Rumors about marriage trouble started last year after Barack Obama was linked to Jennifer Aniston.

On 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!', the 'Friends' actress addressed it with humor, saying, "I was not mad at it," and added, "I know Michelle more than him."

Speculation intensified when Michelle skipped former President Jimmy Carter’s funeral earlier this year and was also absent from President Donald Trump's inauguration.

RadarOnline later claimed that the couple was preparing for divorce, quoting a source who said, “Barack is ready to move on, and Michelle is too.”

Michelle and Barack dismissed the rumors by posting Valentine’s Day selfies on X.

“Thirty-two years together and you still take my breath away,” Barack wrote. “Happy Valentine’s Day, @MichelleObama.”

Michelle replied, “If there’s one person I can always count on, it’s you, @BarackObama. You’re my rock. Always have been. Always will be. Happy Valentine’s Day, honey!”