Former First Lady Michelle Obama revealed during an appearance on “Jimmy Kimmel Live” that she and former President Barack Obama were scheduled to meet with director Rob Reiner and his wife Michele on Sunday, Dec. 15, the same evening the couple was found stabbed to death in their Brentwood home. The revelation came as the former first lady paid tribute to the couple while taking aim at President Donald Trump’s controversial comments about Reiner’s death.
“We’ve known them for many, many years and were supposed to be seeing them that night — last night,” Michelle Obama told Kimmel on Monday night. “And we got the news.” The bodies of Rob Reiner, 78, and Michele Reiner, 68, were discovered around 3:40 p.m. Sunday at their $13.5 million mansion in Los Angeles by their daughter Romy Reiner.
The circumstances surrounding the discovery were deeply unsettling. Romy reportedly told police officers responding to the scene that a family member “should be a suspect” because they are “dangerous.” Her statement would prove prescient when her brother Nick Reiner, 32, was arrested Monday on suspicion of murder in connection with the deaths. He was booked and is being held without bail.
The tragedy follows disturbing events from the night before. Nick had attended a holiday party at Conan O’Brien’s house with his parents, where witnesses reported he engaged in a “very loud argument” with Rob and Michele that left other guests concerned. On Sunday, after he allegedly killed his parents, Nick checked into the Pierside Santa Monica hotel, where staff discovered blood in the shower. Witnesses at the hotel said Nick appeared “tweaked out” when he arrived.
Police released dramatic photos showing Nick’s arrest at a subway station in Exposition Park. The images captured the moment officers took him into custody.
During her appearance Monday night, Michelle Obama appeared to respond directly to Trump’s Truth Social post about Reiner, in which the president claimed the director died “due to the anger he caused others through his massive, unyielding, and incurable affliction with a mind crippling disease known as TRUMP DERANGEMENT SYNDROME.” Reiner had been an outspoken critic of Trump throughout his career.
“Let me just say this: unlike some people, Rob and Michele Reiner are some of the most decent, courageous people you ever wanna know,” Obama stated to applause. “They are not deranged or crazed, 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.”
Host Jimmy Kimmel also criticized Trump’s remarks during his Monday night show, calling the post “so hateful and vile.” He told his audience that when his wife first showed him the statement, he thought it was fake. “Even for him, that seemed like too much,” Kimmel said. “But nothing is ever too much for him.”
The tragedy resonated throughout Hollywood, with longtime friend Billy Crystal arriving at the Reiner mansion after the deaths were discovered. Barack Obama released a statement Monday praising the couple’s legacy and expressing condolences to their family and friends.
Nick Reiner has a documented history of drug addiction spanning more than half his life. The family had been dealing with his spiraling mental illness and substance abuse issues for months, with sources indicating they had told friends, “We’ve tried everything.”
The Los Angeles Police Department stated that Nick is “responsible” for the deaths of his parents. The case will be presented to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office for filing consideration.
Rob Reiner was known for directing beloved films including “The Princess Bride” and “When Harry Met Sally,” while Michele was a celebrated photographer and producer.
The planned meeting between the Obamas and the Reiners underscored the close personal relationship between the two couples, built over many years of friendship. Michelle Obama’s emotional defense of the couple’s character and accomplishments stood in stark contrast to the political attacks that followed their deaths, highlighting the couple’s dedication to causes they believed in and their commitment to their family.