Michelle Obama dispels divorce rumors after absence from public events

WASHINGTON (TNND) — Former first lady Michelle Obama is setting the record straight on divorce rumors in a recent podcast interview in rare public comments about her personal life.

During a conversation with Sophia Bush on the "Work in Progress" podcast, she addressed the rumors that circulated after she was noticeably absent from several events earlier this year, including President Jimmy Carter's funeral and the inauguration of President Donald Trump.

"The interesting thing is that when I say 'no,' for the most part, people are like, 'I get it' and I'm OK," Michelle Obama told Bush. "That's the thing that we, as women, I think we struggle with disappointing people, you know?"

"So much so that this year people were -- they 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 for herself, right? But that's what society does to us. We start actually finally going, 'What am I doing? Who am I doing this for?'" she explained. "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."

Former President Barack Obama has not been shy about how much in love the couple is and even shared heartwarming posts about his wife on her birthday and Valentine's Day.

"Happy birthday to the love of my life," Barack wrote on Instagram in January. "You fill every room with warmth, wisdom, humor, and grace - and you look good doing it. I'm so lucky to be able to take on lives adventures with you. Love you!"

On Valentine's Day, Michelle shared the same photo as her husband in her own post and wrote, "If there's one person I can always count on, it's you, @BarackObama. You're my rock. Always have been. Always will be."