Скачать или смотреть Michelle Obama says she is mindful to try to avoid white-owned brands and others also should be

Michelle Obama recently made comments in a discussion (likely tied to promoting her new book on style, The Look, co-authored with her stylist Meredith Koop) about being intentional with fashion choices, particularly supporting designers and brands owned by people of color.

The viral claim circulating online—that she explicitly said she is "mindful to try to avoid white-owned brands" and that others should do the same—appears to be a paraphrased or exaggerated interpretation of her remarks, not a direct quote. From reports and analyses (including from sources like Daily Wire, which critiqued it while noting the exact wording):
She emphasized being "mindful" about whose brands are in your closet and who you're supporting through purchases.

She highlighted prioritizing black-owned or designers of color when their products are appealing and fit your needs.

She noted something along the lines of: if you can afford high-end brands like Chanel (often associated with established, predominantly white-owned luxury fashion), then you can also support "everybody" (implying a broader, more inclusive range, including underrepresented designers).

She did not explicitly call for avoiding or boycotting white-owned brands outright. Instead, the focus was on conscious consumerism to uplift minority-owned businesses in an industry where they often face barriers (e.g., inventory access, visibility, sizing inclusivity).

This sparked significant backlash on social media and conservative outlets, with many labeling it as racially discriminatory or hypocritical—especially given her past fashion choices (which have included many white designers) and the timing around Martin Luther King Jr. Day in some reports. Critics argued it promotes race-based decision-making in shopping, while defenders see it as encouragement for equitable support in fashion, similar to "buy black" or "support local" movements.

The phrasing in viral clips and posts (e.g., "I'm mindful to avoid white-owned brands") seems to stem from edited videos or summaries that amplify the implication without the full context. If this refers to a specific recent interview or clip from around January 2026, it's blowing up primarily in right-leaning circles as evidence of division, but the exact words lean more toward positive support for underrepresented creators rather than explicit avoidance of others