Former First Lady Michelle Obama said she was supposed to meet Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele Singer Reiner, on Sunday night, before news emerged that the couple had been found dead at their Los Angeles home.
Appearing on Jimmy Kimmel Live, the host offered condolences to Obama and her husband, former President Barack Obama, noting their friendship with the Reiners.
“We’ve known them for many, many years,” Michelle Obama said. “And we were supposed to be seeing them that night.”
The Context
Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner were found dead at their home in Los Angeles on Sunday. Reiner was a prominent Hollywood director, known for films such as When Harry Met Sally…, Misery and A Few Good Men.
Their son, Nick Reiner, 32, was arrested Sunday night and remains 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 praised the Reiners, calling them “the most decent, courageous people.”
In the wake of the deaths, tributes poured in from Hollywood and Democratic political figures on social media. The Obamas, along with former presidents Bill Clinton and Joe Biden, shared statements, as did other prominent Democrats including Gavin Newsom, Nancy Pelosi, and Kamala Harris.
Reiner was also known for his political activism. He co-founded the American Foundation for Equal Rights, which backed the court challenge to California’s ban on same-sex marriage. He also campaigned to protect Ahmanson Ranch from commercial development, helping preserve it as a state park and wildlife refuge.
President Donald Trump issued a statement after Reiner’s death that drew bipartisan condemnation, writing 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.”
After backlash from across the political spectrum, Trump later reiterated his position when questioned in the Oval Office, saying, “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 respond to the broader sentiment during the interview, without directly referencing Trump’s remarks. Speaking about the Reiners, she said: “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?
Law enforcement said the case against Nick Reiner will be presented to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office on Tuesday, December 16.
