Michelle Obama Is Absolutely Convinced People Care What Her Hair Looks Like

Michelle Obama is continuing her book promo tour and complaining nonstop about how she believes she’s been perceived by the public. Her latest in a long list of complaints has to do with her hair.

The former first lady discussed the topic during a conversation with Tracee Ellis Ross that was posted on YouTube over the weekend.

Obama whined that black women are “trapped” by societal pressure regarding their looks and feel compelled to keep their hair straight, meaning they can’t participate in everyday activities. 

“Let me explain something to white people. Our hair comes out of our head naturally in a curly pattern,” the 61-year-old lectured. “When we straighten it to follow your beauty standards, we are trapped by the straightness.”

“That’s why so many of us can’t swim, and we run away from the water. People won’t go to the gym because we’re trying to keep our hair straight for y’all! It’s exhausting, expensive and takes up so much time.”

Obama concluded by effusively telling society to “get out of” her hair.

“So why do we need an act … an act of law to get white folks out of our hair? Don’t tell me how to wear my hair. Don’t wonder about it. Don’t touch it. Just don’t. It just is.”

The former first lady got some negative reactions from both sides of the political aisle. 

One Threads user has been gaining traction online for her reaction to Obama’s rant.

“Dear Michelle Obama, newsflash black women do not straighten their hair because of white peoples beauty standards,” user Chanel Coco posted in reply. “As a Curly natural myself most black women straighten their hair because they choose to and it’s easier to manage for them. Let’s drop this narrative that we do anything for the white beauty standard, black women are the true beauty standard. Why get on stage and say that nonsense?”

“Dear Michelle Obama, Abandon the victimhood. There is no standard. If you don’t want to straighten your hair…then don’t,” an X user posted alongside a photo of a large Afro hairstyle. 

“I, for one, have never once cared about Michelle Obama’s hair and what she does or doesn’t do with it,” former collegiate swimmer Riley Gaines wrote in reply, echoing what so many others were saying. 

Obama has been complaining about her hair and the way she thinks it’s viewed for years. In 2022, she said she decided to straighten her hair while her husband Barack was in office because the public was not “ready for” her to have braids.  

Obama has been promoting her new book, “The Look,” which is touted as a reflection on her “lifelong journey with fashion, hair, and beauty.” The book tour has featured nonstop complaining about the pressure she was under, including when Obama said having a team for hair, makeup, and styling was a “time necessity” rather than a “luxury.”