Marvel actor and comedian Kumail Nanjiani has publicly addressed one of the most bizarre and baseless rumours to swirl around him in recent times: an alleged affair with former US First Lady Michelle Obama. The Pakistani-American star expressed sheer bewilderment at how widely this unfounded claim spread, despite one glaringly obvious fact.
The Rumour That Reached His Wife First
Speaking candidly on the So True podcast hosted by Caleb Hearon, Nanjiani revealed the strange trajectory of the gossip. The rumour managed to reach his wife, writer and producer Emily V. Gordon, before it even got to him. The couple, whose real-life romance famously inspired the Oscar-nominated film The Big Sick, have been married since 2007.
"My friend, our mutual friend pulled Emily aside and was like, 'Hey, so I heard that Kumail and Michelle Obama are like doing it,'" Nanjiani recounted. He shared that his wife wasn't even upset, merely perplexed, as multiple people eventually brought the story to his attention. The actor's primary response was one of amused disbelief, underscored by a simple, factual rebuttal he has had to repeat: "I have never met Michelle Obama."
Absurd Internet Folklore and a Joking Response
The podcast host, Caleb Hearon, used the moment to highlight a pattern of strange internet folklore, referencing a similarly long-running and unsubstantiated claim that former President Barack Obama was involved with actress Jennifer Aniston. "But what I'm saying is, my friend Kumail, you're up there with Jen Aniston in terms of affair rumours," Hearon remarked.
Nanjiani responded with his signature humour, quipping that in both imagined scenarios, the Obamas were "slumming it." He quickly followed up with a lighthearted clarification, stating he meant "no shade to Jen" Aniston. The actor, best known for playing Kingo in Marvel's Eternals, said he could only laugh at how casually such a rumour was repeated, involving individuals who have never even been in the same room together.
Another Entry in the Era of Baseless Viral Gossip
This episode serves as another prominent entry in the growing list of viral celebrity rumours that spread rapidly online without a shred of evidence. In this particular case, the rumour lacked even the most basic premise of a chance meeting. It highlights the surreal nature of modern fame, where fictional narratives can gain traction purely through digital repetition.
Nanjiani's bafflement is shared by many who observe how quickly unverified stories can circulate. His experience underscores the sometimes intrusive and utterly fabricated side of public life, where even the most outlandish claims can find an audience, regardless of their connection to reality.
