Viral clip misrepresents Michelle Obama podcast remark, reignites debunked gender conspiracy

WASHINGTON, D.C. — A video clip circulating on X has reignited long-standing conspiracy theories about Michelle Obama’s gender, falsely claiming she referred to herself as a man during a recent podcast episode.

The claims, amplified by some conservative commentators, have been debunked by context from the full recording and previous fact-checks.

https:// /Bubblebathgirl/status/1917612294113997013

The clip, posted on Tuesday, captures Obama saying, “That warms my heart, particularly as a Black man,” during an episode of her podcast IMO With Michelle Obama and Craig Robinson.

However, sources familiar with the full episode confirm the former First Lady was quoting or referring to a male guest’s experience, not speaking about herself as evidenced in the uncut video.

Key Points

Viral video falsely claims Michelle Obama referred to herself as a man during a podcast.
Full episode confirms she was referencing a male guest’s comments, not her own identity.
The clip revives long-debunked conspiracy theories rooted in racism and misogyny.

The episode, originally released on April 23, features a conversation between Obama and actress Taraji P. Henson about public perceptions of Black women.

According to the podcast’s transcript, the disputed phrase was in response to a guest’s perspective on navigating life as a Black man, not a personal statement by Obama.

Despite the clarification, the clip has been widely misinterpreted. Snopes and other fact-checking organizations have repeatedly addressed false claims about Obama’s gender identity, most recently in February 2025, identifying them as racist and transphobic in origin.

Amplification of disinformation

Errol Musk, father of tech entrepreneur Elon Musk, resurfaced these baseless claims during a February 2025 podcast appearance, adding to their renewed spread online. The false narrative continues to be weaponized by fringe commentators and conspiracy theorists.

In recent interviews, including an April appearance on Sophia Bush’s Work in Progress podcast, Obama acknowledged how public scrutiny has followed her beyond her White House years, but emphasized her commitment to living authentically and independently.

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