Michelle Obama looks radiant on rare outing with her brother amid Barack divorce rumors

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Michelle Obama was spotted out fresh-faced with her brother Craig Robinson in her first public appearance since reports that she and her husband Barack Obama are divorcing began to circulate.

The former first lady spent a pleasant evening at Mother Wolf, a well-known eatery in Hollywood, Los Angeles, with her older brother, Robinson, 62, on Thursday night, February 20, per Daily Mail.

Michelle Obama appeared in good spirits amid Barack Obama divorce rumors

The beaming former first lady was flaunting a distinctly fresh appearance in contrast to her worn-out and gaunt appearance in the picture Barack Obama shared on her birthday in January.

Michelle, who turned 61 last month, appeared upbeat despite the circulating divorce rumors, smiling and laughing with her sibling as they left the venue through the side door.

Secret Service cars and police vehicles were photographed in the area, and the street was temporarily closed to signify their departure, indicating increased security.

Amid the persistent rumors of difficulties in her marriage to the former US president, the outing brought to light the deep sibling bond between Michelle and Craig and provided a brief moment of warmth and delight.

In an all-black ensemble consisting of wide-leg slacks and a fitting t-shirt topped with a fake fur jacket, the mother of two looked chic as usual.

She wore her hair in a dramatic high ponytail to highlight a pair of eye-catching silver earrings. Neither Craig's wife, Kelly McCrum, nor Barack, 63, attended the siblings-only event.

To allay the rumors, Obama shared a romantic selfie of the couple on Instagram on Valentine's Day. "Thirty-two years together and you still take my breath away. Happy Valentine’s Day, @MichelleObama!" he captioned the photo.

Michelle posted the same selfie on her own Instagram account. She wrote: "If there's one person I can always count on, it's you, Barack Obama. You're my rock. Always have been. Always will be. Happy Valentine's Day, honey!"

Michelle Obama kept low profile amid concerns over her marital status

Michelle Obama has maintained a low profile since November, avoiding both President Donald Trump's inauguration and the funeral of former president Jimmy Carter due to skepticism over her marital status.

The former first lady attributed her absence to a prolonged vacation at the couple's opulent Hawaii residence, which is situated on Waimanalo Beach's powder-soft sand.

Meanwhile, her husband Barack Obama attended both events alone while Michelle was on a tropical vacation. He was seen talking animatedly with Trump at the funeral, while First Lady Melania sat quietly on his other side.

However, her constant absence also raised concerns about the health of their marriage as Barack spends most of his time in Washington, DC, and Los Angeles, where their two children, Malia and Sasha, live.

Barack also posted a heartfelt ode to the "love of his life" on Michelle's 61st birthday. He posted a picture of them holding hands while eating supper along with the caption, "Happy birthday to the love of my life, @MichelleObama."

The Obamas have been spending more time in California since 2021, when their eldest daughter, Malia, moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in film production and screenwriting after graduating from Harvard.

After departing the White House in 2016, the former first couple famously took their family on a vacation in a remote Palm Springs house, making the Golden State their first destination.

With the relocation of their younger daughter, Sasha, from the University of Michigan to the University of Southern California in 2022, their affection for the renowned liberal state has only deepened.