Amidst swirling rumors of marriage trouble, former first lady Michelle Obama announced this week that she is starting a new Obama family venture.
But she’s doing it without her husband, Barack.
And the news is only fueling more rumors that the former first lady and president are headed for divorce.
Michelle announced today that she and her brother, Craig Robinson, will launch a new podcast, “IMO.”
According to a press release released by Michelle’s team, she and her brother will “give their opinions and candid perspectives to the everyday questions shaping [their] lives, relationships, and the world around [them].”
“Through honesty, humor, and deep reflection, they uncover the shared experiences that connect us all,” Obama adds in the release.
“With everything going on in the world, we’re all looking for answers and people to turn to,” she said.
“My brother Craig and I launched the IMO podcast to create a space for people to come as they are, ask honest questions, give their opinions, and have thoughtful conversations about life.”
“IMO” will feature the former first lady and her brother sharing their “candid perspectives” and addressing “everyday questions shaping our lives, relationships, and the world around us.”
“There is no single way to deal with the challenges we may be facing — whether it’s family, faith, or our personal relationships — but taking the time to open up and talk about these issues can provide hope,” Obama said.
Robinson, who is the executive director of the National Association of Basketball Coaches, said he and his sister grew up talking through life’s big and small questions together.
“And now, we’re inviting listeners into that conversation, with the hope that it sparks new ideas, new perspectives, and creates the connection we could all use right now,” he said.
The podcast is set to debut this week as Michelle and Robinson are set to appear live at SXSW in Austin, Texas, on Thursday, where they will record a special episode of their new podcast live in front of an audience, according to reports.
New episodes will be released weekly.
This is not the first venture the former first lady has dove into outside of politics.
Since leaving the White House in 2017, she has written two books, “Becoming” and “The Light We Carry: Overcoming in Uncertain Times,” both memoirs.
However, recently she has appeared to make even more of a concerted effort to remove herself from the political spotlight, even distancing herself from events with her husband Barack.
In January, Michelle skipped former president Jimmy Carter’s funeral and did not attend President Trump’s inauguration.
Barack attended both events by himself.
Multiple reports have surfaced that Michelle has been “checked out” of Washington, DC, life since their family left the White House in 2017.
“They don’t pretend that they have this Camelot relationship,” a source who worked with the Obamas told media outlet Page Six.
“They’re not trying to present that they’re this magical couple.”
In addition to attending political events solo, Barack was spotted sitting courtside at a Los Angeles Clippers game last week without Michelle.
Instead, Obama, a huge basketball fan, was spotted with Clippers owner Steve Ballmer and his wife, Connie Snyder, according to the reports from TMZ.
When his attendance was announced on the big screen at the brand new Intuit Dome, Obama jumped to his feet and waved as the crowd gave him a standing ovation.
The night before the Clippers game, Barack was spotted out eating a fancy dinner at Anajak Thai restaurant in Sherman Oaks with his daughters Malia and Sasha.
Michelle did not attend, according to TMZ.