(CNN) - First lady Michelle Obama on Friday answered criticism of her surprise appearance during the Oscars earlier this week.
"That is just the nature of life," she said in an interview that aired on NBC's "Today." "We live in a time when there are bloggers and tweeters and 24 hour news and everyone has a voice in this, you know, in this town square and it is a big one."
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Some didn't consider Obama's late-night cameo, which came live via satellite from the White House, very appropriate.
"Seriously, if (the left) really had their president's interests at heart, they'd steer away from encouraging these celebrity appearances. It makes both the president and the first lady seem small and grasping. In this case, it was just downright weird," wrote conservative columnist Jennifer Rubin at the Washington Post.
Those refrains were echoed by a number of conservative blog posts and commentators online.
Brushing it off, the first lady said that while the expanding online dialogue is good overall, "that means that at any point in given time somebody is not going to like what you do."
Obama is on tour to promote her "Let's Move" campaign against childhood obesity. A coordinated media push over the last week has included stops on Jimmy Fallon's late-night comedy show and events in Illinois, Mississippi and Missouri. She also taped two public service announcements with one of Sesame Street's biggest stars, Big Bird.
Obama was also asked–again–about her now-famous bangs.
"It is a hair cut. I am sorry. I don't know what to tell you," she responded curtly.
When she was reminded she had teased earlier in the week that her bangs were a result of a midlife crisis, she said "that was a joke."
"But it is really a hair cut," she said. "I have cut my hair before...I cut it shorter. I had it shorter two years ago. So this is just a cut in the front."
– CNN's Ashley Killough and Kevin Bohn contributed to this report.
From CNN Politics
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We Love you! The best FLOTUS ever!
The criticism from the right is so lame and disingenuous, they will find anything to criticize her and her husband. Did anyone really listen what she said? Probably not, they just cannot stand the Obama's being in the White House.
Not a day goes by that there is not something in the news form the republicans that is disgusting. We can do something about this: Vote them out of office at very opportunity.
The first lady is banging.
I think the First Lady is great. I commend her public appearances in her fight against Child Obesity. The Oscars, however, are purely Hollywood fanfare – and politics should maintain a safe distance from the world of fantasy entertainment – or those rewarding themselves at a staged event for having created said world of fantasy entertainment. IMHO.
Wait till she runs . . .
Laura Bush made an appearance at the 2002 Oscars...so what?
Thank God! Now I can sleep at night!
There are haters out there who cannot accept the fact that an intelligent, well-educated, articulate, devoted mother, devoted wife, beautiful African-American woman can be first lady of the US. Let them hate, while the rest of us admire you Mrs. Obama.
Well, duh! She DID force herself into the oscars! The Oscars producers, the network, etc., etc. did not dare reject her overtures. The network would probably have been black listed; just like Bob Wooddard.
Gawd, with so much work to be done on behalf and for América, why are Moochie and her hubby starving for "boob tube" recognition?!
Oh well...
Our FLOTUS is beautiful and I love the bangs!!!!
Hillary/Michelle 2016
She's moving on becasue just like her husband, she can't take criticism. They think everyone has them on a pedestal. And it wasn't only conservatives who took issue with her appearing out of nowhere looking down on everyone at the Oscars. Weinsten may have power in hollywood, but his reputation is toxic. He, too, overstepped his bounds here. It was an intrusion and totally inappropriate. And on the heels of her appearing on a late night talk show dancing inappropriately as a first lady for the world to see. That's on record now – good luck "moving on" from that.
Yeah, whatever. It really ruined Oscar night. Keep out of the Oscars.
She was asked to be a presenter. The entertainment industry supports thousands of very good paying jobs. Watch the credits at the end of a movie and you will be surprised at how many behind-the-scene people the movie maker employed.
Please do not quote Jennifer Rubin -besides, we all know that no matter what the Obamas do, right-wing folks will come unglued – blah, blah, blah, blah, blah.
By gosh, those bangs have grown on me. I am really liking the new do, I like the way it frames her face – which is beautiful – but can't say as I blame her for being "curt" about it. It is a hair do, she's a lady, women change their hair – big whoop.
I love and am so proud of our First Lady – classy, elegant, down to earth (and smokin -:)
The President must be doing really well if the conservatives are reduced to whining about the Oscars! I thought FLOTUS appearance was appropriately done and a tribute to a great American industry.
What is the big deal? Presidents go on talk shows and late night TV.Romney even read a David Letterman top 10 list.
This is just partisan conservatives doing what they do best... criticizing everything and anything a democrat does.
The GOP calls everything an outrage and/or crisis. They've cried wolf so much that no one can take anything they say seriously anymore.