Michelle Obama is mourning her longtime friends, filmmaker Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele Singer Reiner.
The former first lady, 61, appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live on Monday, Dec. 15, and was asked about the couple, who were found dead at their Los Angeles home on Sunday, Dec. 14. Their son, Nick Reiner, 32, was arrested Monday and charged with murder in connection with their deaths.
“We’ve known them for many, many years, and we were supposed to be seeing them that night, last night,” Michelle said, explaining that she and her husband, Barack Obama, had planned to meet the couple on Sunday, Dec. 14.
After news of the deaths became public, Barack Obama shared a statement on X, writing that he and Michelle were “heartbroken” and remembering Rob’s decades of work in film and television. He also highlighted the director’s activism and philanthropic efforts, saying Rob’s storytelling was rooted in “a deep belief in the goodness of people” and a lifelong commitment to putting those values into action. He added that Rob and Michele “lived lives defined by purpose” and offered condolences to their loved ones.
As Nick Reiner’s arrest became public, more details began to emerge about the events leading up to Sunday. Multiple sources said Rob and Nick had a heated argument at a holiday party on Saturday night. One source described Nick as behaving erratically and repeatedly asking guests whether they were famous.
TMZ reported that the argument at the Christmas party was “very loud,” and that Rob and Michele left the gathering afterward.
Rob and Michele, 70, were later found dead in their Los Angeles home on Sunday, Dec. 14. The couple’s daughter, Romy, discovered them, according to prior accounts.
Nick Reiner is being held without bail. Authorities located him near the University of Southern California campus, ABC News reported, roughly six hours after the bodies were discovered. He was arrested at around 9:15 p.m. local time. The Los Angeles Fire Department responded to a call for medical aid at the home at approximately 3:30 p.m.
During her late-night appearance, Michelle also spoke about the couple’s character and the legacy they leave behind, responding indirectly to public commentary that followed their deaths.
“Let me just say this — unlike some people — Rob and Michele Reiner are some of the most decent, courageous people you ever want to know,” she said.
“They are not deranged or crazed,” she continued. “What they have always been are passionate people 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. And that is the truth. I do know them.”
