Inside Michelle Obama’s Bold Airbnb Tease to Brian Chesky
Great, just what the world needed—a former First Lady playfully flirting with a tech billionaire on a podcast. Michelle Obama, during a May 21 sit-down that TMZ first flagged and People later confirmed, told Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky that if she were single, she’d be all over that guest room. Yes, you read that right. On the lightly moderated “Future Leaders Forum” (via SiriusXM and streamed on YouTube), Obama leaned into the banter, quipping that Chesky’s California retreat “looks like a palace” and that “if I didn’t have my life so locked down, I’d book it for a weekend.” I told you so—you simply can’t escape a good celebrity tease these days.
Look, I don’t *want* to gush over another celebrity sound bite, but this one actually came with receipts. TMZ’s on-the-ground reporter caught every smirk, and People’s transcript of the exchange proves Michelle didn’t just toss out a hypothetical. She referenced the sprawling garden, solar panels on the roof, and “that kitchen island big enough to feed Chicago.” By spotlighting Chesky’s passion for hospitality (his own Airbnb listing reportedly nets six figures annually, Rolling Stone notes), she managed to highlight tech’s impact on travel—and remind us all that even ex-First Ladies appreciate a well-designed guest bath.
Naturally, brainiacs in Business Insider chimed in about what this means for Airbnb’s brand. Sure, some analysts spin this as a genius PR moment—free advertising from one of the most trusted voices in America. But let’s not kid ourselves: it’s also a master class in lighthearted influencer marketing. When the former US First Lady casually endorses your home, you’ve basically won the internet. Brian Chesky, for his part, flashed one of those CEO smiles and thanked her for the “kind words.” He didn’t exactly roll out a red carpet, but the camera did catch him reaching for an oversized “Home Sweet Home” coffee mug. I think we all saw that.
By weaving in name-drops of Airbnb’s philanthropic arm, Obama underscored her longstanding commitment to education and community—all while throwing in a wink. Yes, readers, it can be both meaningful and cheeky. What’s next? Will she RSVP to a weekend retreat or slide into Chesky’s DMs? Probably not—but it sure keeps the rumor mill spinning.
And there you have it: a flirty First Lady moment that doubles as free ad space for a multi-billion-dollar company. Did anyone expect a different outcome? No? Thought so.
Sources: Celebrity Storm and TMZ, People Magazine, Rolling Stone, Business Insider
Attribution: Creative Commons Licensed
