This year has seen rumors that former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama are headed towards a divorce.

Those rumors may well grow after Mrs. Obama did what has been described as a "flirty" interview this past week. 

Former first lady has "flirtatious exchange" with Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky

According to the website Reality Tea, Mrs. Obama recently invited Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky to appear on the "IMO" podcast which she hosts with her brother, Craig Robinson.

Reality Tea contributor Ritika Singh noted that at one point during the show, Mrs. Obama "began a flirtatious exchange with Chesky."

She pointed to how the former first lady expressed sympathy for a woman who expressed interest in staying at Chesky's home.

"I have to say, Brian, if I’m a single girl out there and I find out that Brian Chesky is single and I can like, stay in his house," Mrs. Obama said with a laugh.

Mrs. Obama downplayed divorce rumor in earlier interview

This is not the first time that divorce rumors have swirled around the former first lady, as she had to address them during an appearance earlier this month on The Diary of a CEO podcast, hosted by Steven Bartlett.

"If I were having problems with my husband, everybody would know about it," Mrs. Obama said before gesturing towards her brother and adding, "And everybody would know it."

The former first lady then went on to lament America's high divorce rate, stating, "I think that people give up too quickly on marriage."

"And if you’re not getting help, talking about it, going to therapy, just understanding how things are changing, and how do you continuously renegotiate your relationship with your partner, I just see people quitting," she complained.

Mrs. Obama did not accompany her husband to Trump's inauguration

Questions about Mr. and Mrs. Obama's relationship have been raised by conservative commentator Tucker Carlson, who claimed that the former first lady "really dislikes" her husband.

Others have pointed to the fact that Mrs. Obama did not accompany her husband to President Donald Trump's inauguration or to former President Jimmy Carter's funeral.

Her absence was observed by Fox News, which cited a statement which the Office of Barack and Michelle Obama had put out.

"Former President Barack Obama is confirmed to attend the 60th Inaugural Ceremonies. Former first lady Michelle Obama will not attend the upcoming inauguration," it read.