Michelle Obama has said that she and her husband Barack were due to see Rob and Michele Reiner on the night of their death.
Director Rob and his wife, photographer and producer Michele, were found dead at their Los Angeles home on Sunday (December 14). Their son, Nick, has been charged with their murders.
Former first lady Michelle appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live the following night and said that they were supposed to have dinner together on the day they died. The Reiners were friends of the Obamas, Michelle told Kimmel: “We’ve known them for many, many years and we were supposed to be seeing them that night – last night – and we got the news.”
Following Rob and Michele’s murders, numerous famous figures paid tribute to the couple – Barack among them. He wrote on X (Twitter): “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.”
Donald Trump, meanwhile, took to Truth Social to imply a link between Reiner’s death and his criticism of the Trump Administration. The post has been condemned by a number of names in entertainment, including Jack White, who called Trump a “disgusting, vile, egomaniac loser, child”.
Frozen star Josh Gad called Trump a “fucking psychopath,” while on talk show The View, Whoopi Goldberg asked that the comments not be read on air. “Don’t read it,” she asked co-host Sunny Hostin. “Just tell them that it’s there”.
Gracie Abrams also weighed in on Trump’s comments, saying: “Within 24 hours of the most unimaginable tragedy a family can endure, we see the President yet again reveal the most poisonous and vile narcissism maybe in the history of humanity. Indefensible.”
Trump has since doubled down on his comments, describing Reiner as “very bad for our country,” and a “deranged person” who was partly “behind” previous claims of collusion between Russia and Trump’s team. “I was not a fan of Rob Reiner at all, in any way, shape or form,” he concluded.
While on Jimmy Kimmel Live, Michelle alluded to Trump’s comments. “Let me just say this, unlike some people: Rob and Michele Reiner are two of the most decent, courageous people you could ever hope to know.
“They’re not deranged or crazed: what they’ve always been is passionate. And in a time when there isn’t a lot of courage going around, they were the kind of people willing to put action behind what they cared about. They cared about their family, they cared about this country, they cared about fairness and equity. That is the truth.”
Kimmel, meanwhile, said in his opening monologue: “What we need in a time like this is compassion and leadership, we did not get that from our president because he has none of that to give. Just when you think he can’t go any lower, he somehow finds a way to do that.”
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