The 61-year-old former First Lady of the United States breaks her silence, revealing the personal choices behind her recent step back from the public spotlight.
In a new episode of the “Work in Progress” podcast, Michelle Obama opened up about her recent time away from the public eye, citing a deeper focus on self-prioritization.
“Man, it is whatever I want, Sophia, it’s whatever I want,” Obama told host Sophia Bush in the April 9 episode. She acknowledged that in the past, her responsibilities as a mother and First Lady often shaped her calendar. “I have to make sure the girls are okay, or my husband’s president, so I can’t. I can’t do that,” she said. “That’s a good get out of jail free card [sic].”
Former U.S. President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama at the men’s singles first round match during the 2023 US Open in New York City on August 28, 2023 | Source: Getty Images
Now, Obama says she’s moved beyond those obligations. “And so now I have to look at my — I get to look at my calendar, which I did this year, was a real big example of me, myself looking at something that I was supposed to do — you know, without naming names — and I chose to do what was best for me, not what I had to do, not what I thought other people wanted me to do,” she said.
Reactions online were mixed. “So sad,” one netizen wrote simply. Another commented, “I am a huge fan of the Obamas. But in the case of the Carter funeral, I feel she made the wrong call, unless she was very ill.” In contrast, a different commenter supported her stance, “Yes, make your own decisions!