Michelle Obama Reveals Her Reality TV Preferences
Michelle Obama, the former First Lady of the United States, has shared her thoughts on reality television in a recent interview. She revealed that there is only one reality TV show she would consider joining: The Traitors.
“I’ve thought about Traitors,” Obama said during an appearance on the “Lemme Say This” podcast on Monday, June 1. “I think I would want to be a ‘faithful.’”
Understanding The Traitors
The Traitors is a murder-mystery style competition series where a group of celebrity contestants enters a castle as “faithfuls.” On the first night of the game, a select few are secretly chosen to be “traitors” who “murder” the “faithfuls” one by one. The “faithfuls” work together to identify and banish the “traitors” before the end of the game.
Obama expressed her interest in being the person who “finds the ‘traitor.’” She even jokingly asked her co-hosts, Hunter Harris and Peyton Dix, “Do you think I’m more of a ‘traitor?’”
A Different Take on Reality TV
While Obama could see herself banishing “traitors” from the castle, she admitted she couldn’t survive on the Real Housewives franchise. “If I’m going to be there, I’d want to be there for the reunions only,” she said. “I have questions. It’s like, why are we always here? Why can’t we work this stuff out? Ladies, come on now, we’re grown.”
Educating Her Husband on Reality TV
Obama is candid about her love for reality TV and has joked in the past that she likes to “educate” her husband, Barack Obama, about the subject matter. “The truth is that they razz me about my love of reality TV and the Real Housewives,” she revealed during a July 2025 episode of her “IMO With Michelle Obama & Craig Robinson” podcast. “I watch it all — all of it.”
Reality TV as a Sociological Study
The author of Becoming explained that reality TV is like a “sociological study,” similar to sports. “There’s drama in sports. If I listen to ESPN for an hour, it’s like watching The Real Housewives of Atlanta,” she explained. “You know? It’s the same drama, and they’re yelling at each other, and they don’t get along.”
She continued, “I’m like, ‘What’s the difference?’ It’s just sociological drama. The fact that people over seasons of working together still can’t get along, they still have the same arguments — and it’s not just women, but this happens in sports, too.”
Final Thoughts on Reality Television
Obama’s perspective on reality TV offers a unique insight into how these shows reflect real-life dynamics. By comparing them to sports, she highlights the universal nature of human conflict and the entertainment value derived from it.
Her comments also reveal her ability to engage with different forms of media and find meaning in them. Whether it’s through the strategic gameplay of The Traitors or the dramatic interactions on Real Housewives, Obama approaches these shows with curiosity and a critical eye.
For those interested in more insights from Michelle Obama, her podcasts and interviews continue to provide valuable perspectives on culture, society, and personal experiences.
