Michelle Obama, the former First Lady of the United States, has found herself at the centre of a social media storm after being accused of hypocrisy. The controversy stems from her recent comments criticising society's obsession with women's appearances while simultaneously promoting her new book, which delves deeply into fashion and style.
Podcast Appearance Sparks Debate
Earlier this week, Obama appeared as a guest on the widely popular culture podcast, Call Her Daddy, hosted by Alex Cooper. The interview primarily focused on her newly released style book, titled The Look. During the conversation, Obama reflected on her experiences during Barack Obama's first presidential campaign, expressing frustration that the public and media often prioritised her clothing choices over her professional accomplishments and personal identity.
Criticism of Media Focus
"It started with appearance," Obama explained during the podcast. "And it got worse as we got better." She recalled that articles covering her on the campaign trail frequently began with descriptions like "She was wearing," rather than highlighting her career or role in the administration. Obama admitted that this focus made her hesitant to embrace her personal style, fearing it might overshadow her substantive contributions.
"I understood that fashion and appearance for women is so powerful, that if I spent too much time talking about it, maybe nobody would hear anything else that I have to say," she confessed to Cooper.
Social Media Backlash
However, these remarks quickly drew criticism online, with many users branding them as hypocritical given the context of her book promotion. One comment pointedly noted, "The jokes write themselves (and a book, as the case may be)." Another questioned, "But … her own book is about her clothing?" A third observer added, "Nothing gets the media and press off your back about your outfits like publishing a book about your outfits and going on podcasts talking about your outfits."
Further fuelling the debate, some highlighted that the very interview on Call Her Daddy began with Cooper asking Obama about her outfit choice for the recording. "They both seemed to forget how the podcast started as well. But go off ladies," one social media user remarked.
Defence of The Look
When Cooper later asked Obama to address critics who might view her style book as out of touch, the former First Lady defended its deeper purpose. "If you know me, you know, I'm just not that person. I'm not the person that's going to talk about some dresses. It's got to have a meaning to it," she asserted. Obama claimed that The Look explores themes of "self-determination" and "who we are as women," positioning it as more than a mere catalogue of fashion choices.
Details of the Book
The Look, released last November, chronicles Obama's style evolution through over 200 photographs, spanning from her university days to her tenure as First Lady and beyond. The book includes contributions from her longtime stylist, Meredith Koop, who also wrote the foreword, as well as her makeup artist, hairstylists, and various designers she has collaborated with.
According to its Amazon description, the volume offers intimate stories that illuminate how her approach to dressing has transformed over the years—from the colourful sheath dresses and brooches of her White House years to the bold suits and denim of her post-presidential life.
Broader Discussion on Gender and Politics
Elsewhere in the interview, the conversation shifted to the prospect of a female president in the United States. Obama referenced "two really qualified female candidates," alluding to former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and former Vice President Kamala Harris, and noted that some men remain unwilling to vote for a woman. She joked that even her husband, a political newcomer at the time, managed to defeat Clinton in the primaries.
Cooper echoed this sentiment, questioning, "How could a woman hold the highest seat in the government when she has less rights than half the population?" and concluding, "We're not there." Obama expressed hope that the country would soon be ready for a female leader and encouraged women to persist in their efforts.
The Daily Mail has reached out to Obama's office for further comment on the matter, but as of now, no additional statements have been released.
