Fact or fiction? Inside the Obama-Aniston affair controversy

A wild rumour has been circulating online for weeks, claiming an alleged secret affair between former US President Barack Obama and Hollywood star Jennifer Aniston.

The allegations, though widely unverified, have fueled speculation and generated significant public interest.

Some observers even pointed to former First Lady Michelle Obama's absence from Donald Trump’s inauguration and the funeral of former President Jimmy Carter as potential signs of marital discord.

The origins of this peculiar story trace back to a 2014 think piece by The Economist.

The article, which posed absurd hypothetical scenarios involving political and celebrity figures, cheekily imagined a potential affair between Obama and Aniston.

The story largely faded into obscurity until August 2024, when In Touch Weekly published a sensationalised article titled, 'The Truth About Jen & Barack!'

Citing an episode of the celebrity gossip podcast 'Who? Weekly,' the piece reignited the rumour mill, claiming that Washington and Hollywood circles were buzzing with gossip about the alleged affair.

The speculation intensified when gossip aggregator DeuxMoi shared vague, unverified claims on Instagram, further amplifying the chatter.

Jennifer Aniston Responds

Aniston finally addressed the rumours in October during an appearance on 'Jimmy Kimmel Live.' Laughing at the absurdity, she dismissed the ongoing speculation.

"That is absolutely untrue. I've met him once. I actually know Michelle better. Of all the calls you get from your publicist where you're like, 'Oh no, what's it gonna be?' or emails saying some cheesy tabloid is going to make up a story, and then it's that. I was not mad at it," she said.

Michelle Obama’s Silence and Marriage Rumours

Michelle, meanwhile, addressed broader speculation about her marriage in January 2025.

Amid reports suggesting the Obamas were living apart and possibly divorcing, she posted a heartfelt message on Instagram.

She announced plans for a memorial garden at the Obama Presidential Centre, dedicated to Hadiya Pendleton, a young woman tragically killed in 2013.

Referring to Barack as "my husband," she reaffirmed their shared commitments and brushed aside rumours of marital trouble.

Obama and Michelle, meanwhile, have been wed for 33 years. The couple are parents two daughters: Sasha, 23, and Malia, 26.

Obama recently posted a heartfelt birthday greeting to Michelle, indicating that there is no problem between them.

Sharing a picture of them holding hands, he captioned the post, “Happy birthday to the love of my life, @MichelleObama.”

“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 life's adventures with you. Love you.”

The former First Lady reshared the post and captioned it as “Love you, honey!”