Latest news with #AngieMartinez
Yahoo
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Angie Martinez Speaks on Her New ‘IRL' Podcast and the Importance of Vulnerability in Her Interviews
How did Angie Martinez become The Voice of New York? She remained true to Angie Martinez. After beginning her tenure at HOT 97 as a teenager answering phones, Martinez skyrocketed to fame with 'The Angie Martinez Show.' Interviewing hip-hop icons such as The Notorious B.I.G., Tupac Shakur, Jay-Z, the show quickly became one of urban radio's most influential programs. Martinez has continued at Power 105.1, her 'Voice of New York' nickname hard won after years of being as authentic as possible within radio's parameters. On June 2, Martinez took the leap into podcasting to break out of those parameters. Titled IRL, the weekly pod aims to further expand on the radio host's signature brand: Exploring the human truth that binds us all together. More from Billboard 'Democracy Forward' Compilation Features Tracks From Michael Stipe, Wilco, Brandi Carlile, John Prine and Tyler Childers Gracie Abrams Shares Snippet of New Music & Gets Support From an Excited Olivia Rodrigo Cardi B Blasts Donald Trump's 'Dictatorship Vibe' Over ICE Raids & National Guard Deployment 'What is the truth of that?' Martinez tells me over Zoom. 'It sounds basic and simple, but [that question] really is what motivates me and pushes me. That's the button I'm always looking to hit. What's real here? What can we really get into?' While IRL was initially a grassroots-led effort via Martinez herself, she has now joined forces with The Volume to take this self-financed passion project to the next level. Having helped create some of hip-hop media's most successful podcasts (Club Shay Shay, Joe and Jada, Rory and Mal), The Volume will turn Martinez podcast into a weekly endeavor, with a big budget and even bigger expectations. 'I'll be honest, it is a little scary,' Martinez admits. 'Cause I don't ever wanna not give it the full effort that I'm giving to them now. There will need to be a little more time and effort to make sure every episode delivers in the same way, at a higher volume.' Regardless, Martinez reaffirms that she's up to the challenge. Below, Billboard talks with The Voice of New York about her pod, some of her favorite interviews so far and how reflections on her own mortality inspired her to enter the crowded podcasting sphere. How did IRL come together and how are you feeling about podcasting so far? It's been exactly what I wanted it to be. I started quietly and was self-funding it at first because I really wanted to control the creative and the narrative because it was special to me. I really wanted to have meaningful conversations. I had a really bad car accident five years ago and, you know, when something like that happens and you're reminded of your mortality, you ask yourself those important questions: 'What do you really care about?' 'What do you really wanna do?' I just wanted to have more meaningful conversations on that level. So that's why Lauren London was my first guest. She set the tone of the type of conversations I wanted to have, and people really resonated with it. I just did it from a place of purpose. That's interesting what you said about having authentic conversations, because to me that's been the Angie Martinez brand for years now. How have these conversations been different from the ones you have on radio? Any conversation I have whether on the podcast or radio or in my real life I'm always searching for authenticity. That's the core of who I am, so that's gonna be with me no matter where my conversation is, but the difference is radio is more about what's happening today. What is current? What is trending? What is the news story of the day? It's very current, and I love that! But the conversations on the podcast are specifically designed to be tools for people in their real life. So yes, somebody happens to be really famous or talented, but these are the things real life has taught them. It's a very specific conversation that's different than what we're doin on the day to day with radio. How have you navigated the challenges of carving your own lane in the podcast space? It feels like everyone's got a podcast. It really has gotten bloated, even from the time we launched to now! But you can't worry about that. It's the same thing as music. There's a lot of music out, but there's podcasts of certain things people need from certain artists. I just think people who know me and know my brand they know what they're gonna get. Actually — how's this for a name drop? — I was talking to Michelle Obama the other day. Casual. That might be the coolest thing I've ever said! She was calling into my show, because she has [a show too] and she told me there's always white space, there's always a need. There's always people out there — even though it's busy in a lot of spaces. When you have a unique perspective and viewpoint, there's space for that. So I try not to [overthink], I'm gonna let the Volume deal with that. When I get in the chair I just try to make content that matters to someone. Tell me more about this deal with Volume, how is this gonna bring the podcast to the next level? We're definitely gonna be regular now. [IRL] kinda just came when the wind came and we had time to shoot it, now this will be a weekly podcast, for sure. You're gonna know when to expect us. After all your years talking to people, what do you think the key is to conducting a good interview? I don't think there's one thing, but I think it starts with listening. Sometimes you can have an agenda, or a thought like, 'Oh this would be a really cool thing to talk about with this person.' That person sits in the chair and that's not where they're at in their life! Or they just had something happen in their life the day before — which, if you're not paying attention to them, listening to their story or being present with them, you could miss it. But also, I find my best interviews are when there's something going on in my life that connects. I try to find the common denominator, the little piece of life that this person and I can look at and see each other. It goes back to meeting people at an honest place. What are a few of your favorite moments on the podcast so far? Some of my favorite conversations so far have been one's where it's not an interview at all. I did an interview with Kelly Rowland, [she] had a very similar situation where she grew up without her father, reunited with him later in life. I shared an experience with her that I just recently had where I found out my father was alive when I thought he was dead. The way Kelly saw me, it became two women talking about a situation we both felt deeply and could understand. There's so many great ones, Kelly Clarkson was great. Lauren London taught us so much about grief and how to survive on the other side of that, because I was coming off of having lost some family members while I was launching this pod. So talking about that was really the blueprint for how I wanted this show to go. I had an interesting conversation with Mike Tyson about anger and rage, Mike was telling me they did a scan of his brain and you could literally see rage in his brain. Something about knowing that you can see the rage inside Mike Tyson on a brain scan, it made me look at him in a different way. Knowing he walks around life trying to manage that. On other radio programs like , there are other people to bounce off of in these environments. But it's been just Angie Martinez the whole time. With people coming to specifically for you and your takes, how do you make sure the goal of the pod gets met while also keeping your personal boundaries stay in tact? Yes, thank you for noticing that! Honestly, If I take anybody to a certain place, I have to be prepared to go there with them. We're in the boat together, and it's come up a lot more in the pod. But at this point in my life, I'm not afraid to share, so I feel the pod is giving me that opportunity to dig into that a little more…you're either in it or you're not, and I'm in it! If not me, then whom — and if not now, then when? Best of Billboard Chart Rewind: In 1989, New Kids on the Block Were 'Hangin' Tough' at No. 1 Janet Jackson's Biggest Billboard Hot 100 Hits H.E.R. & Chris Brown 'Come Through' to No. 1 on Adult R&B Airplay Chart
Yahoo
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Jim Jones Says He Didn't Realize How Many People Loved Nas Until Viral Comparison: ‘I'm Watching People Go Absolutely Batsh– Crazy'
Jim Jones sat down with Angie Martinez for her IRL podcast recently and talked about the debate that's had a stranglehold on rap social media. The legendary journalist and radio host said that the day after she booked Jim for an episode, the Nas debate went viral and asked if he's been trolling people a bit with some of his quotes surrounding the situation. More from Billboard Boldy James Finally Explains Why Amanda Seales Claims He Owes Her Money Liam Gallagher Apologizes for Using Racial Slur, Says 'It Wasn't Intentional' Brent Faiyaz Announces New 'Icon' Album: See When It Arrives 'I mean you're definitely correct,' he said with a smile before explaining how the conversation started in the first place. 'But I didn't start it. There was a young gentleman that they asked a question to and his clip went viral. He was on a podcast and they asked him who's more relevant: Jim Jones or Nas? That went super viral and that led to all these people with platforms to ask that question.' Adding that he was only defending himself after being asked a question, he then brought up his earlier back-and-forth with fellow Diplomat Cam'ron earlier this year. 'Even from the beginning of the year when I did the Justin [Laboy] interview — I didn't start it,' Jones said. 'They asked me how I felt about what was said about me from another platform from some other people. I'm not a troublemaker, but I like trouble if that's the case. I'm built for it. My whole type of thing has been that engagement, and here we are.' Jones then talked about how easy it is to go viral with today's social media landscape and how something like that can benefit an artist in the digital age. 'I gave people a prerequisite,' he told Martinez. 'I know how to go viral, this is easy. We're in a community where everything goes viral… and turns into a revenue stream. I'm on everybody's Explore page, I'm at the top of this page, the top of that page. You like me, don't like me, know who I was… one click away from making me some money. I also have a record label, I have artists, I have music out. It makes it that much easier to know who Jim Jones is. I'm worried about myself when I make these moves. I know how to turn my negatives into a positive.' The kicker, though? He underestimated how many people have Nas at the top of their favorite rapper list. 'Man, I didn't know how many people loved Nas, though,' he said before making himself and Angie burst into laughter. 'I'm watching people go absolutely batsh– crazy, like goddamn. But that's hip-hop. There's people that I adored as a fan too that I'll probably go batsh– crazy for in the same situation, I love it, that's what the game was built on. Let's not make no mistake, I put in a lot of work and I did a lot of incredible things that a lot of people have not gotten to do in this industry.' A few weeks back, a clip of a young 22-year-old from New Jersey went viral because he said the Harlem rapper was more relevant to him than Nas. This opinion predictably got people up in arms and Jones' subsequent media run after continued to fan the flames. Jones defended himself on Fat Joe and Jadakiss' podcast and told the people to pull up the Billboard stats and he told the BagFuel podcast that he basically did Nas a favor by talking about him so much. 'What I did for Nas probably never been done for him in his life. He's never been that viral at all. Ever,' he said. 'Ever. He's never been talked about like this ever in his life.' You can watch the full episode below. Best of Billboard Chart Rewind: In 1989, New Kids on the Block Were 'Hangin' Tough' at No. 1 Janet Jackson's Biggest Billboard Hot 100 Hits H.E.R. & Chris Brown 'Come Through' to No. 1 on Adult R&B Airplay Chart
Yahoo
29-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Michelle Obama won't run for office, but her podcast may guide Democrats
Michelle Obama is back – just not on the political stage. At a time when the Democratic faithful are hungry for dynamic leadership, the former first lady is getting cozy and personal in a podcast called "IMO," a breezy hour-long celebrity chat co-hosted by her brother, basketball executive Craig Robinson. "I feel like at 60, this is the first time where all my decisions are for me," Obama said on her June 19 episode with radio show host Angie Martinez. With her daughters Sasha and Malia launched in their own young adult lives, "this is a period of freedom." Each week, Obama and Robinson are joined by celebrities like comedians Damon and Marlon Wayans, producer Issa Rae or actress Keke Palmer – with just a glint of politics. It's her space to talk with friends. References to her husband, former President Barack Obama, or the eight years they spent raising young children in the White House are matters of fact, but the political wildfire of the second Trump administration is barely noted, except as a launching point to talk about how people are impacted by Trump's new policies. As recently as last July, an Ipsos poll revealed that only Michelle Obama stood a chance of besting Donald Trump in the presidential election. Even before leaving the White House in early 2017, a corner of the Democratic Party clamored for her to run. She has repeatedly slammed the door on that. But as Democrats search for a liberal counter to the right-wing media ecosystem that helped Trump win back the White House by reaching millions who don't pay attention to mainstream media, the online show of a relatable and popular Democrat could be what they are looking for. Regardless of what Democrats want her podcast to be, Michelle Obama has demonstrated she'll do her show her way. For now, she's using a platform that reflects the former first lady's larger, and perhaps more effective, cultural strategy that mirrors how Black women voters - part of the party's loyalist base - are coping after former Vice President Kamala Harris' loss in the 2024 election, said Democratic strategist Nina Smith. "So this is the best way that she can create space and show the multi-dimensional nature of Black women: our thinking; how we engage friends; how we engage with people across racial lines; how we engage with our siblings; and the fullness of us, while also allowing her to speak to the issues of the moment," Smith said. IMO (short for "in my opinion"), is largely devoid of juicy gossip, let alone talk about any current or former White House occupants. The Father's Day episode, which featured Bruce Springsteen and watched by roughly 216,000 viewers on YouTube, came just days after Trump berated the rock music icon for calling the administration "corrupt, incompetent and treasonous." While Trump's name never came up, they both chuckled when Michelle Obama made a joke about some people being president who need therapy. Instead, they talked about going to therapy, building relationships with absentee parents and being present for their children during formative years "I realized that parenting is pennies in the bank," Springsteen said. "It's that time when you were working and you didn't want to stop, but you did. That made a huge difference to me. I always felt that if I had failed with my kids I would have failed tremendously at life." More: Pop stars, massive crowds and history: How the Obama and Harris campaigns compare Michelle Obama responded with a story from her childhood about what it meant when her father, who worked long hours as a city worker in Chicago, turned his full attention to her and her brother. "When he was present he was present in very small but meaningful ways," she said. Michelle Obama, a corporate lawyer specializing in marketing and intellectual property law, was carried into the national spotlight when a skinny senator with a Muslim middle name beat the old guards in both parties with a message of a new America founded upon hope. For most of that time she had to be more mindful of her husband's agenda and image. Since Trump took office, she's been openly critical of him, but on her terms, such as at the 2024 Democratic National Convention in her hometown of Chicago, rather than on her podcast. Speaking up at what she considers the right moment will likely continue, said Democratic strategist Lynda Tran. "I would not be surprised to see her using her voice to rally Democrats in the future assuming the appropriate venues and strategic value. And I would expect an overwhelmingly positive response from Democrats when she does," Tran, who worked in the Obama administration, told USA TODAY. But her participation in politics might be through raising money and giving speeches, rather than a central role in the party's future. Her focus in the last few years has been on outside projects, her family and now the new podcast she co-hosts with her brother. Demands to do more from either Barack or Michelle Obama are often met with scoffs by longtime supporters, such as Natalie Graves, a clinical social worker who was at Chicago's Grant Park when the couple took the victory stage in November 2008. More: Obama warns Trump administration has 'weak commitment' to democracy in Connecticut speech "My first response is an eye roll," Graves, a 55-year-old registered Democrat, said of ongoing efforts to recruit the former first lady to run for president. "If a person says that they don't want to run, what are we talking about? They're ignoring the fact that she has made it very clear that she hates politics." The former first lady firmly shut the door on running for president in March, saying her daughters, who are both in their 20s, had "served their time" in the limelight and should get to be private young adults. "I wanted them to have the freedom of not having the eyes of the world on them. So when people ask me would I ever run, the answer is no," Obama said on Kylie Kelce's 'Not Gonna Lie' podcast. "If you ask me that, then you have absolutely no idea the sacrifice your kids make when your parents are in that role." Democrats are casting about for trusted voices to better connect with different voters and help create a left-wing media ecosystem to match that of the right. Some liberal strategists are asking donors to contribute to finding voices and influencers on the left to counter people like Steve Bannon and Joe Rogan who helped propel Trump to office, the New York Times reported last month. Democrats statistically have more trust in mainstream media than Republicans, said Texas Christian University political science professor Adam Schiffer. The Democratic brain trust is asking 'who is the Democratic Joe Rogan?' he said, but 'it's not necessarily clear that there could be one because Democrats don't necessarily find that gratifying and entertaining.' More: Town halls, f-bombs and Elon Musk: How Democrats are waging a new messaging war Younger people have a radically different media consumption than their parents, Schiffer said, and it "could become a critical problem for Democrats" if they don't figure out how to get in front of them. No matter how popular, a former first lady in her sixties might not be the best emissary to young people, he said. Influencers played a large role in Harris' abridged presidential campaign last summer and fall, but they couldn't compete with a Republican online juggernaut that has been building for over a decade. And not everyone is an "IMO" fan. Some are calling out the former first lady's complaints about living in the White House. For example, former Fox News host Megyn Kelly mocked the podcast in a June 26 video posted to X, later saying Michelle Obama was "trashing her children and husband again." More: 'I could do it': Eric Trump ponders a future run for president When Michelle Obama does talk about politics in her podcast, it mostly orbits around the future for Americans in her daughters' generation and how political decisions impact ordinary people. She's often echoing the kind of kitchen table politicking that only voters in swing states get to hear about every four years from presidential candidates. "I'm talking to so many young people who are deathly afraid of their futures in this climate," she said in the May 21 episode. "They're not just worried about jobs, they're worried about being able to become the next entrepreneur, they're wondering whether, you know, they'll have healthcare and housing [and] whether they'll be able to pay off their student loans." In that episode, Obama and her brother spoke with Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky about the future of businesses under the Trump' administration's new tariffs. They talked about how the taxes on goods brought into the country are being passed on to consumers and hindering the ability of younger Americans trying to make it to reach their goals in the current economy. More: Will TikTok be banned? Donald Trump says he has a 'warm spot' for app as it faces January deadline "I mean, some people can hold on, but other people are not only losing their businesses, but they're losing their homes in the process," she said. "It's kind of scary." Michelle Obama did use the podcast to defend her decision not to attend Trump's January inauguration, which sparked rounds of criticism and speculation about her marriage. She insisted she was simply "making the choice that was right" for her. "Whatever the backlash was, I had to sit in it and own it. But I didn't regret it, you know? It's my life now, and I can say that, now," the mom of two said on a June 26 NPR podcast. Michelle Obama's show also arrives at a time when the Democratic brand remains in the ditch with progressive voters. About one-third of Democrats said they are optimistic about their party's future, a May poll by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research found. Though several Democrats are starting to make moves toward 2028, liberals have struggled with the lack of a main character to match Trump's political moxie the way then-Speaker Nancy Pelosi did in his first term. Lately, Democratic officeholders have clashed with federal agents at press conferences, immigration hearings and ICE facilities, creating viral moments that have been cheered by mainstream and more left-leaning progressives. More: Vance defends using military to quell protests, refers to Sen. Alex Padilla as 'José' Such actions have never been in either of the Obamas' style, and some Black political activists and artists have been emphasizing the need for "self-care" over political action in the aftermath of the 2024 election. "It's important for her to stay within the public space, so it's good that she wants to be active. She endorses candidates and stuff of that nature. I have no problem with that," said Steven Uzoukwu, a 33, a cybersecurity analyst from Baltimore, Maryland. "I just think we shouldn't rely on the Obamas to save America." (Correction: An earlier version of this story misspelled Kylie Kelce's name.) This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Could Michelle Obama be the voice Democrats need right now?
Yahoo
25-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Michelle Obama Just Revealed Why She's Glad She Didn't Have Boys, And Her Reason Makes Sooo Much Sense
Michelle Obama is opening up about motherhood — and why she's just fine never having raised a boy. On the June 18 episode of her podcast, IMO with Michelle Obama & Craig Robinson, the former first lady welcomed radio host Angie Martinez for a wide-ranging conversation that eventually turned to parenting. As they tackled what it takes to raise kids who grow into decent humans, the subject of sons — and their social conditioning — entered the chat. 'You should have thrown a boy in the mix,' Martinez jokingly said. With a laugh — and a hint of relief — Obama didn't miss a beat. 'I'm so glad I didn't have a boy,' she said. Ever the thoughtful interviewer, Martinez pressed her on why. Obama's answer? Her hypothetical son would have had impossibly large shoes to fill. 'He would've been a Barack Obama,' she admitted with a smile. Martinez called the idea of raising a mini Barack 'amazing,' but the former FLOTUS didn't hesitate to acknowledge the weight such a legacy might place on a child. 'I would have felt for him,' she said, acknowledging that it's a lot to live up to. Robinson, her brother and co-host, jumped in to note that Michelle hasn't exactly missed out on the boy-mom experience because she 'borrows' his sons. This article originally appeared on HuffPost.
Daily Mail
21-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Michelle Obama says she is 'glad' she never had a son because he would have turned out like Obama - as marriage rumours refuse to go away
Michelle Obama has said she is 'glad' she never had a son because he would have turned out like her husband - as their unhappy marriage rumours refuse to go away. The former First Lady, 61, shares daughters Sasha, 24, and Malia, 26, with 44th US president Barack Obama, 63, who was in office from 2009 to 2017. Speaking on her podcast IMO, which she co-hosts with her brother Craig Robinson, she said on Wednesday: 'I'm so glad I didn't have a son because he would have been a Barack Obama.' Guest Angie Martinez, an American radio presenter, there to help out on the agony aunt show, replied: 'Baby Barack. It would have been amazing.' But Mrs Obama soon countered, The Telegraph reports: 'No, I would've felt for him.' It comes as the couple, who tied the knot in 1992 after meeting as fellow attorneys at a Chicago law firm in 1989, face speculation their marriage is on the rocks - which Mrs Obama has vehemently denied. The rumours began after Mr Obama attended several high-profile events - including former president Jimmy Carter's funeral and President Donald Trump's inauguration, both in January - without his wife. And the Daily Mail revealed exclusively yesterday Mrs Obama has jetted off on a getaway to the Spanish island of Mallorca without her husband. Speaking on her podcast IMO (pictured), which she co-hosts with her brother Craig Robinson (centre, with guest Angie Martinez, left, and Mrs Obama, right), she said on Wednesday: 'I'm so glad I didn't have a son because he would have been a Barack Obama' Elsewhere in Wednesday's podcast episode, she appeared to take another swipe at her husband too as she mentioned his long-time hobby of playing golf. The author and former attorney began: 'Parenting is like fly-fishing. 'Never been fly fishing but from what I've seen about it, it's all in the wrist, it's a very delicate balance... it's like nothing works the same way every time.' Laughing, she finished, somewhat pointedly: 'It's elegance, right? It's not dunk and drop and grab... We should go fly fishing. Better than golfing.' Mrs Obama finally addressed long-running speculation about her 33-year marriage head-on on an episode of celebrity interview podcast The Diary of a CEO in May. She told host and entrepreneur Steven Bartlett: 'If I were having problems with my husband, everybody would know about it.' And she has spoken out on the matter on her own podcast too, praising Mr Obama as a 'tremendous father' during an episode this month. She said even when he was president, he left the job at the door whenever he talked to his daughters, determined to be there for them in their formative years. The couple were also spotted out on a date night in New York City last month, after having also been seen going out to dinner in Washington DC in April. And Mrs Obama told The Jay Shetty Podcast last month that though her marriage can be 'hard', 'I wouldn't trade it', calling her husband, 'as the young people say... my person'. She continued on the British mental health show: 'The beauty of my husband and our partnership is that neither one of us was ever really, ever going to quit at it, because that's not who we are. 'And I know that about him. He knows that about me.' In April, Mrs Obama also told American actress Sophia Bush on her celebrity interview podcast Work In Progress: 'We as women, I think we struggle with, like disappointing people. '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... that's what society does to us.' But despite these denials, the divorce rumours are proving hard to shake, with speculation reignited as she travels to Spain without her husband in tow this week. Mrs Obama was pictured yesterday with her daughters and James Costos, 62, former US ambassador to Spain and his partner Michael Smith, 62, the Obamas' longtime interior designer and former White House decorator‑in‑chief. The group were seen enjoying a meal at The Lobster Club in the Puerto Portals marina - with Mr Obama conspicuously not in attendance. Mr Smith and Mr Costos are long-time friends of the Obamas and have hosted the family many times at their Rancho Mirage home in Palm Springs, California. It followed the former First Lady's admission she does not like being referred to as Mrs Obama. She shared her reservations when appearing on the Las Culturistas podcast, hosted by American comedians Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang, with her brother earlier this week. Mr Rogers revealed before they began recording, she had asked him to just be called 'Michelle' instead of 'Mrs Obama'. He began the episode of the pop culture podcast: 'Earlier I was like, "Thank you so much, Mrs Obama," and you said, "Michelle,".' 'I did say that,' she responded, laughing, 'We cannot have a real conversation if you're saying, "Mrs Obama", that's too many syllables.' Mr Rogers then asked if she is usually quick to 'put down that shield for people,' and Mrs Obama admitted she was constantly trying to appear less intimidating. Despite Mrs Obama's denials, the divorce rumours are proving hard to shake, with speculation reignited as she travels to Spain without her husband in tow this week. Pictured: The Obamas on their wedding day in October 1992 'I was trying to do that when I was First Lady because I just think... I am not that position. I am Michelle', she explained. She said she lets children call her Mrs Obama 'because they're learning' - but does not like adults saying it, especially when she is trying to connect to them. 'I'm always trying to break down that wall to say, "We're just all here"', she continued. 'And the first thing to do is like, let's drop that title, that's a little heavy.' The former First Lady said people calling her Mrs Obama 'changes the dynamic': 'So, I'm Michelle.' Her brother Mr Robinson then quipped: 'I know what we call her - Your Highness.' 'Well, it's great to be on a first name basis', host Mr Rogers joked. The Obamas' eldest daughter Malia, an aspiring filmmaker, has also dropped her famous surname and is now going by Malia Ann professionally. Michelle has publicly supported Malia's decision, emphasising she wants her daughter to 'carve her own path' and 'make her way'. Other events of recent months that have fuelled speculation about the Obamas' marriage include Mrs Obama missing the couple's usual courtside seats at the NBA All-Stars basketball game in March.
