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By Marni Rose McFall
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Former First Lady Michelle Obama has said that she was meant to be meeting with Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele Singer Reiner, on Sunday night before it was revealed they had been found dead at their home in Los Angeles.
During an appearance on the late-night show Jimmy Kimmel Live, the talk show host offered his condolences to the former first lady and her husband, former President Barack Obama, acknowledging that they had been friends with the Reiners.
Michelle Obama responded: "We’ve known them for many, many years. And we were supposed to be seeing them that night."
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The Context
Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele Singer Reiner, were found dead in their home in Los Angeles on Sunday. Reiner was one of Hollywood’s most prolific directors, known for iconic movies including When Harry Met Sally…, Misery and A Few Good Men.
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Their son, Nick Reiner, 32, was arrested on Sunday night and is in custody on murder charges, according to online records and confirmation from the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department (LASD) to Newsweek.
What To Know
During her appearance on Kimmel, Michelle Obama paid tribute to the Reiners, describing them as "the most decent, courageous people."
Hollywood and Democratic politicians have led a flood of tributes to the Reiners on social media. The Obamas, and former presidents Bill Clinton and Joe Biden have shared statements, alongside other high profile Democrats including Gavin Newsom, Nancy Pelosi, and Kamala Harris.
Reiner had a long history of political activism. He co-founded the American Foundation for Equal Rights, the group that initiated the court challenge against the ban on same-sex marriage in California. He also led successful efforts to save the Ahmanson Ranch in California from commercial development and preserve it as a state park and wildlife refuge.
President Donald Trump issued a statement following Reiner’s death, which has drawn bipartisan condemnation. In it, he wrote that Reiner had died "reportedly due to the anger he caused others through his massive, unyielding, and incurable affliction with a mind crippling disease known as TRUMP DERANGEMENT SYNDROME."
Despite the tsunami of backlash that followed from both sides of the political aisle, the president later doubled down on these remarks when asked in the Oval Office if he stood by them. Trump said, "I think he hurt himself career-wise. He became like a deranged person. Trump Derangement Syndrome. So I was not a fan of Rob Reiner at all, in any way, shape or form."
Michelle Obama appeared to address this while speaking to Kimmel, but did not explicitly acknowledge these remarks. The former first lady said of the Reiners, "They are not deranged or crazed."
What People Are Saying
Former President Barack Obama, in a post on X viewed over 40 million times: "Michelle and I are heartbroken by the tragic passing of Rob Reiner and his beloved wife, Michele. Rob’s achievements in film and television gave us some of our most cherished stories on screen. But beneath all of the stories he produced was a deep belief in the goodness of people—and a lifelong commitment to putting that belief into action. Together, he and his wife lived lives defined by purpose. They will be remembered for the values they championed and the countless people they inspired. We send our deepest condolences to all who loved them."
Former First Lady Michelle Obama, speaking during her appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live, said about the Reiners: "In a time when there’s not a lot of courage going on, they were the kind of people who were ready to put their actions behind what they cared about. And they cared about their family, and they cared about this country, and they cared about fairness and equity."
What Happens Next?
The case against Nick Reiner will be presented to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office on Tuesday, December 16, as per a statement issued by law enforcement.
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