Former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama were seen together in New York City for a rare evening out, prompting renewed public interest amid ongoing speculation about the state of their marriage. The appearance, brief as it was, marked the first time the couple had been photographed together in more than six months, according to The New York Post, and came at a moment when rumors have been circulating widely online.

The couple was spotted leaving the upscale Lowell Hotel, flanked by their Secret Service detail. Michelle Obama, 61, walked ahead toward their waiting SUV, dressed in a sleek black ensemble paired with matching heels. Witnesses described her as appearing upbeat and confident, smiling at people nearby as they made their way out of the building.

Barack Obama followed shortly behind. Those watching noted that the former president looked more serious and reserved, his demeanor markedly subdued next to Michelle’s warm and relaxed presence. The contrast caught the attention of social media users and observers, many of whom have spent months analyzing every detail of the couple’s public absence.

Rumors about a possible rift in their marriage have swirled for some time, fueled in part by Michelle Obama’s absence from several major public events earlier this year. She did not attend President Biden’s inauguration nor the funeral services for former President Jimmy Carter—absences that generated speculation despite no official comment from the Obamas suggesting marital issues.

Adding further curiosity, Michelle Obama recently spoke openly in multiple interviews about undergoing therapy as she navigates what she calls “the next phase” of her life. On an episode of The Jay Shetty Podcast, she shared candid reflections on her personal evolution over the past few years.

“At this phase of my life, I’m in therapy because I’m transitioning,” she explained. “I’m 60 years old, I’ve finished a really hard thing in my life with my family intact, and I’m an empty nester.”

With her daughters, Malia and Sasha, now fully independent, Michelle said she has reached a point where her decisions are no longer dictated by the responsibilities that once shaped her daily life. “Every choice that I’m making is completely mine,” she said. “I don’t have the excuse of, ‘My kids need this,’ or ‘My husband needs that,’ or even ‘The country needs that.’”

She added that seeking guidance during this time feels both necessary and empowering. “This is a whole new phase of life for me,” she continued. “And I now have the wisdom to know: let me go get some coaching while I’m doing it.”

Her recent remarks came shortly after she addressed the growing online speculation about her marriage. During an appearance on actress Sophia Bush’s Work in Progress podcast, Michelle criticized the assumptions people make about women’s choices—especially when those choices don’t fit expected social patterns.

“That’s the thing we as women struggle with—disappointing others,” she said. “This year, people couldn’t fathom that I was making choices for myself. They had to assume my husband and I were divorcing.”

She described how stepping back from certain public roles has encouraged her to rethink everything from her identity to how she wants to spend her time. “We finally start asking, ‘What am I doing? Who am I doing this for?’” she said. If her choices don’t align with what others expect, Michelle explained, many people default to negative interpretations.

Further fueling online chatter was a lighthearted moment on her own podcast, where she joked with Airbnb co-founder and CEO Brian Chesky. During the conversation, she made a playful remark that some listeners seized on.

“If I’m a single girl out there and I find out Brian Chesky is single and I could stay in his house—” she teased, trailing off with a laugh. Chesky joined in, noting that the Obamas had attempted to set him up before. The exchange quickly spread online, with some lifting the comment out of context to feed existing rumors.

Despite the speculation, neither Barack nor Michelle Obama has issued any statement confirming problems in their marriage, and friends of the couple have previously dismissed such rumors as baseless. Still, the combination of Michelle’s introspective comments, her recent absences from major political events, and the couple’s limited public appearances has kept interest alive.

Their evening in New York, rather than quieting discussion, seems only to have added another layer of intrigue. For now, the Obamas continue to navigate their post–White House lives largely outside the spotlight—leaving the public to interpret brief glimpses as best they can.