Michelle Obama revisits Barack’s lip injury that required stitches in her podcast but changes key detail

WASHINGTON, DC: Michelle Obama raised eyebrows this week after revisiting a well-known incident involving her husband’s busted lip during his presidency, dramatically claiming Barack needed “30-something stitches” after a basketball mishap.

But according to official reports from the time, the real number was just 12, reports NY Post.

Michelle Obama explains why she told Barack to quit basketball

While chatting with her brother Craig Robinson on 'IMO podcast episode', the former first lady brought up a memorable incident from 2010. Michelle recalled how she used to warn Barack saying, “I’m always like, ‘Be careful playing basketball. You shouldn’t be playing now. You have a real important job.’”

She remembered him walking into the White House with gauze on his lip, Michelle said on the April 16 episode.

“He needed like 30-something stitches,” Michelle said with exasperation. “He had some major speech on Monday, and I was like, ‘This is what I’m saying. You’re playing like you’re 10, and now your lip is split.’”

The infamous injury occurred during a pick-up game at Fort McNair, where then-President Obama took an accidental elbow to the face from Rey Decerega, a staffer at the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute. The White House confirmed the president only needed 12 stitches. Even that total was considered generous, with doctors using extra-fine sutures to minimize scarring.

Footage from the aftermath showed a solemn-looking Obama observing the White House Christmas tree arrival from an upstairs window.

Michelle Obama puts divorce rumors to rest

The former first lady, 61, appears to shut down ongoing rumors about a split from husband Barack Obama. Spotted during a visit to The Academy’s offices in Los Angeles alongside her brother and podcast co-host Craig Robinson, Michelle confidently sported her wedding ring along with her signature diamond bracelets.

The appearance follows Michelle’s candid remarks on Sophia Bush’s 'Work in Progress' podcast, where she directly addressed speculation about marital tension. According to Michelle, the reason for her recent absence from political events isn’t drama — it’s disinterest.

She made it clear there was no bad blood between them—she simply stepped back from political events because, in her view, they weren’t offering much value anymore.

Michelle also also spoke candidly about the criticism she’s faced for simply embracing her independence. “They had to assume that my husband and I are divorcing,” she shared, pointing out how surprised folks seemed that she was making choices not entirely tied to her daughters or her husband's political path. “This couldn't be a grown woman just making a set of decisions herself, right?”

“Heaven forbid a woman make her own decisions,” Michelle joked, throwing a pointed jab at the outdated mindset that expects women—especially those in the spotlight to always play the supporting role, never the lead.

At 61, Michelle Obama opened up about the sense of freedom she’s finally embracing, “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 shared.

“Women struggle with disappointing people,” Michelle said. “And when they finally put themselves first, society doesn’t celebrate them — it questions them.”