Michelle Obama’s brother, Craig Robinson, is fortunately married to Kelly McCrum, however his divorce from his first spouse, Janis Robinson, was extremely tough to navigate. Though Craig, who’s one yr older than the previous first woman, has spoken about his divorce earlier than, he peeled again one other layer on the debut episode of his and Obama’s new job, their podcast, “IMO with Michelle Obama and Craig Robinson.” Throughout the phase the place they spoke concerning the occasions they did and did not lean on one another, Craig cited his 2000 divorce from his first spouse as a time when he braved his issues alone.

“And I need to inform a narrative about after I did not lean on you,” Craig started. “Simply on this instance was after I was going by way of my first divorce, my solely divorce, and I did not let you know about it.” He continued, “And the explanation I did not inform my sister about it, or my mother, or anyone near me … was as a result of I do know my sister, and I mentioned if I inform her about this, she’s by no means going to recover from it.” In his thoughts, he determined to maintain the problems he and Janis confronted to himself to assist protect her relationship along with his household in case they ever bought again collectively. In the end, he held off so long as potential, and when he did lastly open up about their points, “[Michelle] was so mad that I hadn’t instructed her and so disillusioned that I vowed that I might by no means not inform her — maintain something from you.” 

And whereas Craig did not harp on the problems that led to his cut up from Janis on this episode, he is spoken about it earlier than at size.

In 2013, Craig Robinson, a former funding banker turned basketball coach, sat down for an interview with Graham Bensinger to dig into his divorce from Janis Robinson. Halfway by way of, Bensinger alluded to substance use on Janis’ half as one of many main elements of their divorce, and Craig did not disagree. “These near you could have made no secret. I imply, it was a bitter divorce … you and I suppose your spouse, your ex-wife, nonetheless do not speak ‘until today. I suppose there was a substance abuse downside. You’ve gotten custody of the youngsters,” mentioned the host. In response, Craig revealed that he realized “you’ll be able to’t ever inform what your scenario goes to finish up — even when it begins out nice. And, umm, it’s a must to be adaptable.”

Craig, who has lived a tragic life, defined once more that hoping his marriage would work out stored him from opening up about their issues. “The entire time, I used to be pondering it would work out,” he mentioned. “I do know that if I used to be sharing the entire dangerous stuff with my household, they’d by no means recover from it. I might recover from it, they’d by no means recover from it, and I would not be capable of try this to my ex-wife or my spouse. For those who get into it an excessive amount of, and also you inform them all the things, they’re going to by no means forgive your important different.” He continued, “In order that was the explanation why, being as shut as our household was, they have been all shocked that I used to be getting divorced.” His sister, Michelle Obama, was particularly upset that he weathered his trials alone, however he nonetheless believed that folks should not share their accomplice’s soiled laundry with their household.

On their podcast, Obama revealed that she sensed a disconnect occurring, however she wasn’t conscious of the extent of his points. “I believed I noticed some issues that have been pink flags, however I would all the time be like, ‘The way you doing?’ and your reply would all the time be, ‘We’re nice, we’re good.'” After that, she instructed Craig by no means to inform her that issues in his life have been good as a result of she would not consider him once more.