During a live taping of her new podcast at SXSW, the former first lady opened up about handling speculation, staying positive, and why she avoids reading online comments altogether.
Michelle Obama acknowledged that living with “rumors” about her family has never been easy but shared how she and former President Barack Obama have learned to move past negativity.
During a live taping of her new podcast, “IMO with Michelle Obama and Craig Robinson,” at SXSW on March 13, the former first lady addressed how she stays positive in challenging times. Alongside her older brother, Craig Robinson, she spoke about their experiences dealing with speculation and misinformation over the years.
“People always ask me and Barack, how did we stay hopeful in, not just the eight years that we were in the White House, but beyond?” Michelle said. “Because, let me tell you, there was a lot of negative energy flipping our way — a lot of rumors, a lot of gossip.”
She emphasized that ignoring social media speculation has been key to maintaining her peace. “You cannot live through social media,” she explained. “I don’t think I have ever once looked at a comment section, period.”
Michelle encouraged listeners to take a step back from negativity, focus on real conversations, and avoid getting trapped by misinformation online. She stressed the importance of broadening information sources and staying grounded in reality rather than online discourse.
The discussion comes after a wave of online speculation about the Obamas’ marriage following Barack’s solo attendance at Donald Trump’s inauguration.
Comments circulated on social media speculating about the state of the Obamas’ marriage, with mixed reactions ranging from skepticism to support for Michelle Obama’s absence.
