Michelle Obama’s brother, Craig Robinson, was skeptical about his sister’s relationship with Barack Obama when the couple began dating.
“So Mich starts to date Barack, and we don’t know who this guy is, we’re just like, ‘Barack? Who’s got a name like Barack?’” Robinson recalled on Wednesday’s episode of his and Michelle’s “IMO” podcast.
“And I’m thinking it’s gonna last a month like most of your relationships.”
Michelle, 61, jokingly took offense to her brother’s remarks, arguing, “That’s not true. I’ve had many a long-term boyfriend.”
“I wouldn’t call those guys boyfriends,” Robinson, 62, quipped in response.
Craig, 62, then recalled their mother Miriam Robinson’s reaction when Michelle brought Barack over to the house to meet them.
“I remember mom’s first thing was, ‘Oh, at least he’s tall!’” he shared. “That was her first thing she said, because Mich was usually posting up her other boyfriends.”
However, Craig still wasn’t convinced, admitting, “And I said to myself, ‘Too bad it’s not going to last.’”
However, Michelle proved her brother wrong. She and Barack, 63, tied the knot in October 1992, and they share two daughters, Malia, 26, and Sasha, 23.
Craig’s revelation on the podcast came after Michelle shut down rumors that she and the former president were headed for divorce after 32 years of marriage.
The couple became the subject of divorce speculation after Barack attended several high-profile events without his wife by side.
The “Becoming” author addressed the online chatter on Sophia Bush’s “Work in Progress” podcast earlier this month, explaining why she chose to take a step back from the spotlight.
“The interesting thing is that when I say ‘no,’ for the most part, people are like, ‘I get it,’ and I’m OK,” Michelle said.
“And that’s the thing that we as women struggle with — disappointing people,” the former first lady continued.
“So much so, that people, 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.”
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