Discipline and Stability: Shannon Sharpe Steps Away From ESPN and Michelle Obama Speaks On Relationship

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Breakfast Club

Episode: Discipline and Stability: Shannon Sharpe Steps Away From ESPN and Michelle Obama Speaks On Relationship
Release Date: April 25, 2025
Host/Authors: The episode features Lauren LaRosa, Brandon, and Patrick as they delve into pressing topics surrounding public figures and personal relationships.

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1. Introduction and Check-In

The episode kicks off with Lauren LaRosa introducing herself and her co-hosts, Brandon and Patrick. They engage in a brief check-in segment where each participant shares their current state using a single word.

• Lauren LaRosa [00:01]: “I'm the homegirl that knows a little bit about everything and everybody.”
• Patrick [01:18]: “I'm feeling great.”
• Brandon [02:27]: “I'm feeling activated.”

This segment sets a personal tone, allowing listeners to connect with the hosts on a more intimate level before diving into heavier topics.

2. Shannon Sharpe’s Departure from ESPN

A significant portion of the conversation revolves around Shannon Sharpe’s recent decision to step away from ESPN amidst allegations.

• Lauren LaRosa [03:00]: “Shannon Sharpe just posted a statement to his Instagram... I am electing to step aside temporarily from my duties at ESPN.”

Key Points Discussed:

• Timing of Departure: Shannon Sharpe anticipates returning with the NFL preseason, typically around August, indicating he expects a swift resolution ([04:06] Brandon).

• Public Opinion and Brand Image: The hosts explore how public perception and brand reputation influence corporate decisions, regardless of legal outcomes.

  • Brandon [05:20]: “The court of public opinion matters to these brands. They care about what their image is.”

• Speculation on the Nature of Allegations: While Shannon states the relationship was consensual, Brandon speculates on possible reasons behind the allegations, including BDSM practices, and highlights the implications of recorded evidence.

  • Brandon [07:08]: “If that's the case, I think it's very negligent on his behalf to just have so much evidence, writing and audio of it.”

• Impact on ESPN and Associated Shows: The discussion touches upon how Shannon’s absence affects other ESPN talent and programming, particularly his role on First Take alongside Stephen A. Smith.

Notable Quote:

• Brandon [06:35]: “Think the statement is fair. I actually thought that was a good amount of time. I thought that's enough time to really figure out, you know, conclude everything that's going on.”

3. Public Reaction and Social Media Discourse

Lauren and Brandon discuss the backlash Shannon Sharpe is facing online, including ridicule and criticism from various platforms:

• Lauren [09:02]: “People kind of think that it's funny... it's not jokes about what happened to the alleged victim. It's more so jokes about Shannon Sharpe just doing too damn much.”

• Brandon [09:21]: “It's the hypocrisy, yo. It's like him always kind of coming at people for messing with younger women and making fun of them. And he's messing with a 19-year-old.”

The hosts express frustration over the swift judgment and lack of due process, emphasizing the significant impact of public scrutiny on personal and professional lives.

4. Michelle Obama’s Insights on Relationships

Transitioning from Shannon Sharpe’s situation, the conversation shifts to Michelle Obama’s discussions on relationships, particularly her podcast In My Opinion.

• Lauren [10:30]: “Michelle Obama starts having a conversation with Taraji about... her saying no and her protecting her peace and her being able to speak out for herself and be vulnerable.”

Key Themes:

• Vulnerability and Transparency: Michelle Obama emphasizes the importance of being open about one’s struggles within a marriage to foster understanding and empathy.

• Balancing Public Image and Personal Life: The discussion highlights the challenges Michelle faces in maintaining her public persona while addressing personal relationship dynamics.

Notable Quotes:

• Michelle Obama [11:47]: “It's like there were 10 years when I couldn't stay with my husband.”
• Brandon [14:54]: “I just wish she got some of the grace with what he's going through.”

5. Personal Reflections on Relationships and Emotional Expression

Lauren and Brandon delve into their perspectives on emotional vulnerability in relationships, drawing parallels between public figures and personal experiences.

• Lauren [16:54]: “We hear you doing everything you can do and it not being enough.”
• Brandon [20:17]: “I don't like that specific thing... I just feel like she thinks about her feelings first.”

Discussion Points:

• Emotional Expression Among Men: Brandon shares his discomfort with men displaying vulnerability, highlighting societal expectations and personal experiences.

  • Brandon [21:15]: “Crying from a girl feels crazy.”

• Balancing Support and Emotional Boundaries: The hosts explore the necessity of supporting partners without becoming emotionally overwhelmed or reliant.

  • Lauren [22:00]: “I can't be your emotional punching bag.”

6. Conclusion and Takeaways

As the episode wraps up, Lauren summarizes the key insights from their discussions:

• Lauren [24:41]: “There should be a golden rule... protect your peace, your household, your reputation, your brand.”

• Brandon [25:27]: “It's gonna be bad. But we don't need to know about it all the time.”

The hosts underscore the importance of maintaining personal boundaries, protecting one’s reputation, and navigating emotional complexities in both public and private spheres.

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Overall Takeaway:
This episode of The Breakfast Club offers a deep dive into the complexities of public figures navigating personal scandals and the importance of vulnerability and emotional intelligence in relationships. Through engaging dialogue, Lauren, Brandon, and Patrick provide listeners with thoughtful perspectives on managing personal integrity, public perception, and emotional well-being.

Notable Quotes with Timestamps:

• Lauren LaRosa [00:01]: “I'm the homegirl that knows a little bit about everything and everybody.”
• Brandon [02:27]: “I'm feeling activated.”
• Brandon [06:35]: “Think the statement is fair. I actually thought that was a good amount of time.”
• Michelle Obama [11:47]: “It's like there were 10 years when I couldn't stay with my husband.”
• Brandon [14:54]: “I just wish she got some of the grace with what he's going through.”
• Brandon [21:15]: “Crying from a girl feels crazy.”
• Lauren LaRosa [24:41]: “There should be a golden rule... protect your peace, your household, your reputation, your brand.”

This comprehensive summary encapsulates the episode’s core discussions, providing listeners with a clear understanding of the topics even if they haven't tuned in.

Transcript

[Lauren LaRosa]

I'm the homegirl that knows a little bit about everything and everybody.

[Brandon]

You know, if you don't lie about that, right?

[Patrick]

Lauren came in hot.

[Lauren LaRosa]

What's up, y'all? It's Lauren LaRosa. This is the latest with Lauren LaRosa. This show, as you know, is your daily dig into all things pop culture and the conversations that are really shaking the room now. I'm your homegirl that knows a bit about everything and everybody. So today, joining me and Patrick, y'all. Say hey to Patrick. What's good, y'all? Brandon is here. Brandon, I don't know what you wanna give to people. Your Instagram or, like, what you wanna go by.

[Brandon]

I'm Brandon. Instagram is B, BDOT,_27. I'm not copying anybody's name. That's just what they call me since college. Yeah. And I was just highly surprised Lauren never asked me to come on here with her today. Cause I was being very opinionated at work and just, you know, talk about topics. She's like, hey, come on the show. So I said, why not?

[Lauren LaRosa]

Where you work at?

[Brandon]

Orcat Power1051 with the breakfast Club. I'm a producer on the show. Yeah. That's where me and Lauren get our topics off. Yeah, she usually just give me a real dirty look and I have to take back what I said.

[Lauren LaRosa]

So today when we do, you know, we're going to get into a couple things. I think you guys will love hearing from Brandon. And we got to do a check in behind the scenes of the grind.

[Brandon]

Back on the grind.

[Lauren LaRosa]

This is where we check in and we just see, you know, how people are feeling. But the rules with our check in are that you have to use one word and you can describe why you said that one word. But you got to do it one word first. And you gotta be real about it. Like, if you're not feeling it today, you can be like, I'm down. So we start off. Patrick, how you feeling today? I'm feeling great. We just came back from Del State last night late, but we still got to it. For those who don't know, I graduated from Delaware State University. Love my hbcu. So I go back often. Like, you know, whenever they ask me to, if I can accommodate. I try to because I know how important it is for the students to see somebody that's like, really out here doing things that's not like 80 years old up close and personal. So I went. They were honoring a lot of the student athletes. They have a lot going on with the athletic program. The Sean Jackson is there now. He was there as well last night. If you want to see some of that, we did do video. So make sure you're following me on Instagram at Lauren, the Rosa YouTube where you guys are watching this, you know, check out. It'll be on YouTube as well, too. And photos. We. We'll have photos posted. So that was. That was dope. The to be able to take, you know, Patrick to my hbcu. But. Brandon.

[Brandon]

Yes.

[Lauren LaRosa]

How you feeling today?

[Brandon]

I'm feeling activated.

[Lauren LaRosa]

I know that's right.

[Brandon]

Yes, yes, I'm feeling activated. You know, I made, you know, a little $100 on the stock market. So can you help me? Listen, I'm not a financial advisor at all. I've been taking big losses. That's why. That's why today is a little different.

[Lauren LaRosa]

But that's why you're excited today, huh? Yeah. But I'm glad you're feeling activated. I'm glad you're sticking to your goals. It's summertime. You trying to have the guns out. Ok. No, I feel good as well too, I think because the weather is warm. I'm feeling energized, which is ironic because we were out last night at Del State. But yes, the weather is nice outside. My niece is here and she's gonna be at American Dream, so I'm gonna go by and see her. I'm just up. So. Yes. Now let's get on into the latest. I would say we taking y'all to court, but again, this hasn't even made it to court yet. But you know your girl. Love to take y'all to court. Love to take y'all to court. Shannon Sharpe just post posted a statement to his Instagram. The statement that he posted is actually of a screenshot of a text that he sent to someone. So it says, my statement is found here, and this is the truth. The relationship in question was 100 consensual. At this juncture, I am electing to step aside temporarily from my duties at espn. I will be devoting this time to my family and responding to and dealing with these false and disruptive allegations set against me. I plan to return to ESPN at the start of the NFL preseason. I sincerely appreciate the overwhelming and ongoing support I have received from my family, fans, friends and colleagues. Shannon Sharpe. When is NFL preseason, Brandon?

[Brandon]

Usually in the summertime. End of summer. So like around August. Oh, this summer.

[Lauren LaRosa]

So he expects this to be over fairly quick.

[Brandon]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Lauren LaRosa]

I could almost have predicted that this is what was going to happen.

[Brandon]

Yeah.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Which is why I had been reaching out, trying to, you know, figure out previously, like, was ESPN going to make the call or was he? And not because I want to see anybody out of a job. I think. I think in a matter like this, it is very unfortunate that you can't wait until something has actually been proven or disproven. Like, guilty, not guilty. Like, he can't keep his job until then. But it's just how it works with brands, especially a brand like espn, Disney, because those brands don't like Disney. Like, esp, it's big money. They want to stay out of the muddy waters. And even though Shannon Sharp has not been proven guilty of anything that has been alleged against him, it's still a lot of conversation around the brand every single time he gets on television on that show. Yeah, like, people are like, well, why is he. Why is he still there? Last night, literally, I was reading a Reddit, like, a long conversation on Reddit, and then I saw, you know, some conversation online on Twitter. And sad to say, the court of public opinion matters to these brands. Like, they care about what their image is. Guilty or not guilty, if you're the person in question. And when I started to see these things, that's what made me reach out and say, hey, look, you know, because people are online talking about this, I'm starting to see more stories, because there was a story that came out, I believe it was Yahoo. They did this story early Tuesday morning, the 23rd, that Shannon Sharp was not let go from ESPN. Right now, since then, there has been more audio that has come out. There's been text messages. There's been a lot of conversation. The photo of the woman, the accuser in question has come out. There's been a lot of online discourse as well, because all of those things, Shannon Sharp posting a video, all that stuff, it makes it bigger, makes people talk about it more. And so it's unfortunate, but it's not uncommon at all. And it doesn't signal that he's guilty at all. It could honestly be a couple of things. What I predict that happened is ESPN needed to make a decision for their brand, to protect their brand, to protect their shows and protect their other talent. Because he's on First Take with Stephen A. Smith, which is unfair. It puts everybody in a very unfair position. So I get it. And this is what happens. We were all in here when he posted a statement. It literally just happened. What y'all think of the statement, outside of it being not a text from him, but a text to him, I.

[Brandon]

Think the statement is fair. I actually thought that was a good amount of time. You said the. The summertime, like NFL preseason times a little soon. I thought that's enough time to really figure out, you know, conclude everything that's going on or. And then him come back, like a fresh slate. Hopefully he learns from this situation. I don't know if you want to get here yet. Yeah, but he seemed very, like, green about all this. Very naive about having all this recorded. If he is. If it's. This is just a situation, him doing, like, BDSM and just that type of kink they have together.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Yeah.

[Brandon]

If that's the case, I think it's very negligent on his behalf to just have so much evidence, writing and audio of it.

[Lauren LaRosa]

There was trust there. And that's what it is for me. It's like, you know, as this develop in the story comes out, because even in us talking about it here today, I'm just trying to figure out where. Like, if there was trust there, as it seems to have been, where did that go wrong? If this is just a case of him just, you know, that's how they get off. Right.

[Brandon]

I mean, that's what makes it tricky. And to see, like, there might be something way more to just a kink or just text messages.

[Lauren LaRosa]

It's something way more on some sides. I just wanted you to tell me. Cause you said that in that article, it mentioned 2023 to now. What else does it say?

[Brandon]

That they had consensual sexual activity with Jane Doe about 100 times in both Los Angeles and Nevada from late 2022 to January 2025.

[Lauren LaRosa]

I knew when I read the headline, I'm like, this has to be sourced somewhere close to. Or. You know what I mean? Something coming from Shannon Sharpe's side. Because it's. They're trying to, you know, continue to push the narrative of. And just further expose the narrative of this was a consensual relationship according to Shannon Sharp. And in this statement comes right after I literally reached out to ESPN because reports had beginning. There were more reports that had begun to happen about Shannon Sharpe being let go from espn and them, you know what I mean, saying, hey, we're good off you. So I reached out to sources close to production over there just to figure out what's going on. Like, is this true? Because I see the reports and then people report that it's not true. And then I see it again, like, what's. What's up? I need to know for myself and what I Was told was that, you know, Shannon Sharpe at the time before he just announced that he's stepping away, was on the. It was business as usual. He's there Monday, Tuesday. He's not there the rest of the week. And if anything changed, you know, we would know. We'll have to, you know, see what happens. But it's a long. This gonna be a long summer.

[Brandon]

What do you. What are your thoughts on people, like, from the outside kind of showing that they've like, never been on his side or like everybody kind of dogpiling him now with like, maybe the Matt Barnes audio came out. The Shaq Donnell Rollins baby mama. Like, everybody's kind of like, you know, it's hard for the course, not flipping. But yeah, it's a crazy dog pile going on.

[Lauren LaRosa]

I think it comes with the territory. I'm not surprised at all. I think more so, it's like, I think people kind of think that it's funny. Like I'm saying a lot. Like, there are a lot of people who are like, he's weird as hell. That girl is way too young. But the. The jokes that people are making, I'm like. And it's not jokes about what happened to the alleged victim. It's more so jokes about Shannon Sharpe just doing too damn much.

[Brandon]

It's the hypocrisy, yo. It's like him always like kind of coming at people for messing with younger women and making fun of them. And he's messing with a 19 year.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Old at the time, early 20s, took her out for her first drink. Psych, psych, psych. I don't know if he. I don't know no 19 when they started though, for real. But now she's in her early 20s.

[Brandon]

Gotcha. Yep, yep.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Yeah, and there's that Katt Williams video. I think we gonna. Let's throw that on in here. Just for, you know.

[Patrick]

Didn't want to get with a white woman. Cause I was scared she might have me running down the street like, Jonathan.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Gonna come on Cat.

[Patrick]

Not because I didn't like white women. I think white women are as great.

[Brandon]

As any other women.

[Patrick]

But I'm not going to act like I'm not scared of them. I have a reason to be scared. You could be Kang the Conqueror and they could take your rabbit ass down in two weekends. And that's the truth of the matter.

[Lauren LaRosa]

So it happens. You know what I mean? Especially when Cat Williams predicts your year. All right, y'all, so moving on. This is the reason why I got Brandon here. Don't Say all men now. So Michelle Obama has a podcast. I've talked about her podcast on this podcast. I enjoy it so much. I'm learning so much about her. But she's just really good at being vulnerable and transparent, and she has great guests. She had Taraji P. Hinted on her podcast. Her podcast, Michelle Obama's podcast is called In My Opinion. So they sit down with Taraji. They're talking about her career and the decisions that she's made. And Taraji has been very vocal about the spiritual journey that she went on. She talked about it when she came to the Breakfast Club as well, where she's learned a lot about herself and saying no and protecting her peace and, you know, because she was in a really dark place at one point, so she's had to be more just protective of everything. And Michelle Obama starts having a conversation with Taraji about, you know, her saying no and her protecting her peace and her being able to speak out for herself and be vulnerable. This led into this conversation. Now, I remember when Michelle Obama first made the comments, some of the comments she's referencing. Let's go to the other YouTube video of her where she's sitting down at Revolt with Angie Martinez and Kelly Rowland and Winnie Harlow and all of the girls. So this is back in December of 2022. Let's take a listen.

[Michelle Obama]

It's like there were 10 years when.

[Patrick]

I couldn't stay with my husband. You know, you say that.

[Lauren LaRosa]

You say that 10 years.

[Michelle Obama]

And guess when it happened. When those kids were little, right? Yes.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Right.

[Michelle Obama]

Because, you know, you can be all great individually when you're just married.

[Lauren LaRosa]

You got your life, he's got his.

[Michelle Obama]

You come together. It's all, ooh, good to see you.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Bye.

[Michelle Obama]

Take it easy. And then you have kids. Set. Take it easy.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Take it easy.

[Michelle Obama]

You're traveling. That's great. Good. I get to hang out, watch the tv. I want to watch. But the minute we had kids, it was like, where are you going and how far? And you start measuring. It's like, how many diapers did you change? And oh, you're golfing. Oh, you got time. Oh, you got time to golf. Why you at the gym all the time? Why you in my brain right now? I'm like, that's when all the measuring starts because you got this project. And guess what? Little kids, they're terrorists.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Brandon was pissed off at those comments.

[Brandon]

I'm not pissed off. This is a little frustrating to listen to. Right? So I'm listening at this one with Angie Martinez and Kelly Rowland and the rest of the gang. So she was like, I hated my husband 10 years. And if I heard right, Angie was like, yeah, you do say that. That's my issue. It's like, I feel like she says it a lot. Like, she takes every opportunity to tell us how much she hated the greatest black man, one of the greatest black men to ever live, and it's just like, dang, what. What can we do? Like, I'm sorry if I don't have time to change diapers. I'm the leader of the free world right now. I got to figure out, I got to go do this drone strike or no golfing is to take off some of the pressure I'm going through. It's just. It's just tough. I don't. I don't. Like, you know, the constant. You know, I feel like berating Barack Obama that I see on.

[Lauren LaRosa]

On her behalf, and it's because she. She. She talks about when things are not perfect.

[Brandon]

Yes.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Okay, so I can understand the sentiment because I have male friends who also, you know, we have conversations about different things. They deal with. With the woman that they're dating, the women that they're with. And a lot of times I get upset. I be like, do she know how much you're going out of your way and you this and you that? And I'm. I'm. You know what I mean? Like, and I'm going through all the things as a friend or as a sister, because it's like, I hear you doing everything you can do and it not being enough.

[Brandon]

Yeah.

[Lauren LaRosa]

And I think that's where your sentiment comes from. Right?

[Brandon]

Yeah. Pretty much. Like, you worked, you know, to become the president of the United States as a black man is like, it still kind of feel like you're not doing enough, at least in the house. Like, I don't know what's going on, the marriage per se. But it was one part where she was like, everybody says I'm bitter for trying to humanize him. I'm like, yeah, why does he need to be humanized if we have him? Maybe. If we have him on some type of. Maybe he's a symbol of hope for a lot of people. Or we put him on a pedestal, and it's like. Cause I'm like, there's kids who literally, like, growing up, they didn't think, like, nah, I probably can't be president. I'm black. Like, it's a simple thought in passing, but it's like, if we hold him in that high regard, why do you have to bring him down? And humanize him to us. Like, we know he's not perfect, but I don't think there's a need to constantly tell us how imperfect he is.

[Lauren LaRosa]

What I'm hearing in the second clip with Taraji is that what she learned to do was she needed to create the space for her husband. And in doing that, he's a human as well. He has flaws. He's not perfect, but he knows how to come back and get it right. And she knew that there were other women going through that. And I think she probably felt like, if I can humanize him, then maybe y'all take it a little bit easier on him. Cause y'all see he's not perfect. He can't. No one's perfect. Just because he is that man that you look at that I'm a little black boy or even a little black girl now. I think I can be the president because of Barack Obama. Yes. And that's amazing. But this man still has flaws. He's not the perfect dad. He's not the perfect husband. He might not be the perfect president, but he's always a trying dad, a trying president. Like, I think that's where it was coming from. But also, too, I think that there's a lot of women. Kelly Rowland instantly was like, girl, you. In my head, it's a lot of people that probably could relate to that.

[Brandon]

I've hated you for 10 years. Does it sound like what you just said? No, I know. You're right. I completely understand what you're saying, But I don't know. I just feel like on the flip side, anytime he speaks of Michelle is just positive things. He writes paragraphs of how she's the greatest woman ever. I just wish she got some of the grace with what he's going through.

[Lauren LaRosa]

So you don't think that she ever speaks positively of him?

[Brandon]

No, she does. She does. She does. She does.

[Lauren LaRosa]

She does.

[Brandon]

But she does take a lot of opportunities to also speak negatively because she feels like we need to see his human side.

[Lauren LaRosa]

I think men just view that type of vulnerability in conversation differently. And don't get me wrong, it's some women that, like, I don't know if I would have came out and said, I hated my man for 10 years.

[Brandon]

Only because long as I hate somebody.

[Lauren LaRosa]

But to her point, she said, okay, they've been together for 32 years. Because she also said in this in the same clip, and I've heard her say multiple times on her podcast, right. If someone were to tell you, okay, you might not like this person. Out of 32 years, there might be 10 of those years that you put it all together that you're not gonna like this person, Right? But the other years, you're in bliss, you're in peace. You're so in love. You gotta take the good with the bad.

[Brandon]

I get it, I get it. This is gonna be bad. But we don't need to know about it all the time.

[Lauren LaRosa]

So are you only saying that because he's the president, or you feel like women in general, what happens at home should stay at home?

[Brandon]

I think it's more so cause he's the president. He probably has one of the hardest jobs in the country as a man. It's dope when your girl feels like you one of the dopest dudes out there. I'm sure she does.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Why can't I feel like you dope, but like, you really get on my nerves sometimes. Like, I really dislike you some days, but I. I dislike you. But I learned how to love you through the dislike at each phase of our life. Like, I think that that's human. You think that people that are married. First of all, do you believe that people can be married for 32 years and never step outside their marriage?

[Brandon]

I haven't been. What do you mean, step outside? Like, look. Yeah, I think so.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Okay, so in doing that, because you believe that, do you believe that there's times within those 32 years that those people are going to not desire each other, not want to be with each other, not agree. When I say not desire, I mean physically, mentally, all of that.

[Brandon]

I understand that. It's just the platforms. It's publicly. I think we do need to hold certain people as symbols of hope. I'm sorry. I really think that's important for the greater.

[Lauren LaRosa]

It's the president. Like, what's the presidency?

[Brandon]

What if Martin Luther King's wife kept talking about how much he cheated on top? She said, no, the movement is bigger than our marriage.

[Lauren LaRosa]

She did. Martin Luther King's wife. But it's also a generation thing. She is older than Michelle Obama. I think that recipes. Huh?

[Brandon]

I said we lose the recipe.

[Lauren LaRosa]

I. I think. Because what's so crazy is Michelle Obama and Tracy Ellis Ross talked about this on the episode that we talked about prior to this. How as the generations come along. That's why Tracy Ellis Ross was saying she dates younger. Because she was saying that, like, younger men are just open to different ideas of what relationships and the rules of engagement should be. Not engagement like marriage, but like, just the how a relationship is set up. Yeah, like we come from the era of what happens in the house stays in the house. Right? You're not getting on a platform talking about your man and nothing in general. And I do, for me, I, I'ma honor that. Like in. Especially because I'm on the, like I could get on the radio every day. And even in like the, the, the. The small relationship stuff that I do talk about, I'm always thinking about how the other person will perceive that or how it can be taken for the other person. And I can't imagine if the world knew, you know what I mean? Like, if I had a boyfriend and y'all knew who my boyfriend was and he is, you know, I mean, out here doing his thing and then he gotta run into people that's like, oh, yeah. Cuz Lauren was just saying, you know what I'm saying? Like, I think about that, but I think the younger that the generations get, you feel a certain type of freedom or power where it's like, it's empowering me to talk about this because now I feel like I don't got it. Like if Michelle Obama's exit Barack and we catch a little side eye, now we know why she don't like him every day, but she love him and don't say nothing to her man or to her about her man. She's human. It's sanity at the end of the day. And that's what she was talking a lot about in this episode is like for her mental health, she had to learn how to say no if I want to talk about what goes on, because it helps me to feel human and it helps the world to see him as a human. I gotta do it. And I'm not angry or bitter because of it. Is there anything else you want to yell at black women about today? So quiet outside of our household.

[Brandon]

I don't like that specific thing, you know what I mean? And I do want to acknowledge she probably went through a lot and we talked about it before you yelled at me again that, you know, she probably had it hard, like having to put her career on the side and to solely be a mother and be in the public eye. And she maybe wasn't ready for a lot of the things. So I'm not even downplaying everything she went through. I just don't. I just.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Do you feel like feelings are equally considered in relationships and marriages?

[Brandon]

Nah. And it's not all on y'all either. Like, we. We downplay our feelings a lot too. So y'all wouldn't even think we about to end it all, but, nah, it's not. I don't think so.

[Lauren LaRosa]

I feel like I pick up on it more now. And that's why, to me, when I hear her talking about humanizing Barack, I feel like it's almost like a method of protection. Like, I want you to see him as the person I see him as so that you. Yeah, so that he can get some empathy, because he needs it. Because he probably goes through so much behind the scenes trying to keep things together. Y'all have to think about y'all feelings first. We think about our I last. We think about our feelings first.

[Brandon]

I don't know. Crying. The thought, like, crying from a girl feels crazy.

[Lauren LaRosa]

You never cried with any of your girlfriends or you like girls you was talking to?

[Brandon]

I was in the bathroom. That's the closest. She heard me from outside the bath. That's the closest ever. And I. And I came out like nothing happened.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Sly, Sly and Sly, get away from the door.

[Brandon]

I came outside, but, nah, not really.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Brandon tried to put water on his face, so when he came out, he.

[Brandon]

Was just like, yeah, I just gotta wash my face. Yeah.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Then that's crazy. I don't want my man to have to go and cry in the bathroom. I want you to be human. I want you to be vulnerable. I want you to be, you know, all of these things. With reason, though.

[Brandon]

Like, here we go. Here we go.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Reason with the reason. What you say, Patrick? Asterisk.

[Brandon]

Yeah.

[Lauren LaRosa]

No, not with a condition, but just.

[Brandon]

Like, okay, what's a list of things I can't cry about?

[Lauren LaRosa]

Wait, if you seen your man cry watching the movie, you judging him?

[Brandon]

Best man Holiday got me. The best man Holiday got me laughing.

[Lauren LaRosa]

But my man would laugh at me crying at a movie, so why can't I laugh at him? Like, it would be funny. Like, it would be like, oh, look at you. And I would laugh. But when I say with reason, I just mean, like, I don't want you to be so emotional that it's like a hindrance. Not even a hindrance, but, like, you're emotionally unstable. You know what I mean? Where. Like, have you ever dated somebody or dealt with people where it's like. Like, yes, granted, things should have emotion. You should be able to feel. You should be able to be a person. But sometimes it's just like, whoa, did this equal all of that? Yeah, like, that type of thing. Like, I want you to be able to feel and all of that, but I don't want. I don't want to be your emotional punching bag. Is what I'm saying. And I think sometimes when you create space and create room for things, I just don't ever want it to be miscommunicated because I don't want to. I don't want to punch and bag nobody else. Like, if I'm having a bad day. You're not going to have a bad day because I'm having a bad day, is what I'm saying. So, like, emotion, but us knowing how to, like, navigate each other's emotions so that I'm helping you through it, or I'm at least supporting you through it, even if it's just like, I'm sitting there in silence and we just, like, scrolling on our phones type of thing. Like, you know, I'm just. You call me, you need to talk, and I'm just listening. But not like, okay, now you're throwing dark. That darts my way because of something you experience because you know I'm there for you. And I don't think that it should be the other way around, either. I don't think that it should be like that with women as well. And I've done that in my past as well, too, so I'm being accountable or whatever, but leave Michelle Obama alone, Brandon. Keep her name on your own.

[Brandon]

I think very highly of Michelle Obama. I just wish she thought highly of her husband, too.

[Lauren LaRosa]

It's like, well, we're gonna leave it on that one. And wrapping it up. What have we learned from today, y'all? This is the part where we kind of summarize everything that we have been talking about into, like, one overall. Like, all right, here's. Here's today's takeaway. So we went from Shannon Club, Shay Shay to Michelle Obama in the Obama household. What did we learn today?

[Brandon]

Unk. You know, y'all really could learn how to control yourself. Like, that's ridiculous. The things you do. It's ridiculous. Or if you really need to get that off, you gotta be more discreet with it, but it's ridiculous. Michelle Obama, what I've learned from that is, like. From what you're saying is like, the other side of it, the grace, you know, she may need and why she's lashing out.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Lashing out. Expressing.

[Brandon]

That's not the good word.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Why she's lashing out, expressing on a.

[Brandon]

Leash while she's expressing herself in these ways. But, yeah, I think there's different things you learn from both the stories we talked about.

[Lauren LaRosa]

What I learned from all of this is there should be a golden rule, and I think that there probably is. One I just don't know the quote for, but it should be golden to be able to protect your peace, your household, your reputation, your brand. Just, like, how you're interacting with people and how you deal with an impression that you leave on the people you interact with and, like, how that echoes into the world. So I don't know what went down with Shannon Sharp with. In this girl or what didn't go down, but something wasn't protected somewhere on someone's side. And now we're getting all of this, like, and it's. It's. It's. It's not good. And I think that, you know, just learning how to protect everything you've worked for. But that's. I don't know, that's kind of crazy to say, because if. If on the other side, like, if what she's alleging is true, like, if. Right.

[Brandon]

Yeah.

[Lauren LaRosa]

There's no way that you. Yeah, no, no, no. Because there's no way that, you know, you don't. You don't go somewhere, like, not trying to protect yourself from things like sexual assault. So. I don't know.

[Brandon]

Feels crazy, huh? Thinking of all the flip side, my answer feels crazy.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Yeah. Yeah, yeah.

[Brandon]

But, nah, you should definitely. I don't know what to say anyway.

[Lauren LaRosa]

I don't. I don't know if. I don't know if I've learned anything from Shannon Sharp, so I'm gonna just leave that there. I think that that's just. I'm gonna just leave it there. But as far as Michelle Obama Wallow tweeted this thing, he tweeted, he said, too much exposure invites entitlement, and too much access breeds disrespect. When people feel they can reach you at any time, see you everywhere, and speak to you however they want, they begin to forget your value. Mystery protects respect. Boundaries protect peace. And I think that it goes to your point of what you're saying about Michelle Obama and how she speaks out about certain things that go into. You know what I mean? But I also think that it speaks to what she's trying to say as well, too. She's managing how people deal with her so that they deal with her in a way that is respectful and according and aligned. So you know where her mental is at. So that is it. That is all. But we had a good time. Brandon, thank you for joining us.

[Brandon]

No problem. I had a great time also. I probably didn't express myself in the best way this episode, but then you.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Got to come back. You got. You got to come back. You got to come back. So this has been the Latest with Lauren LaRosa. I am Lauren LaRosa, your homegirl that knows a bit about everything. And everybody tell you guys this every time because I want you to know, I mean it. At the end of the day, you guys could be anywhere with anybody. Cuz it'd be a lot going down talking about all this stuff. But y'all choose to be right here with me every single episode. And for that, I appreciate you guys. I will see you in my next episode.