Michelle Obama is opening up about the tragic deaths of Hollywood director Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele Singer Reiner.
“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,” Michelle, 61, said of herself and Barack Obama during a Monday, December 15, appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live.
Michelle also appeared to address President Donald Trump, who earlier Monday mocked Rob’s death, describing him as a “deranged person” who had “Trump derangement syndrome,” referring to the director’s frequent opposition to the Trump administration.
“And let me just say this: Unlike some people, Rob and Michele Reiner are some of the most decent, courageous people,” Michelle said on Monday. “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.”
Rob, who was 78, and Michelle, 68, were found dead inside their home in the Brentwood area of Los Angeles on Sunday, December 14. The Los Angeles Police Department said the couple were discovered with apparent stab wounds.
On Monday, Us Weekly confirmed that their son, Nick, 32, had been taken into custody and arrested on a murder charge in connection with his parents’ deaths. He is currently being held at the Twin Towers jail in L.A. with no bail.
Rob and Michele shared three children: sons Jake, 34, and Nick, and daughter Romy, 27. Rob also shared an adopted daughter, Tracy, 61, with his first wife, filmmaker Penny Marshall.
“It is with profound sorrow that we announce the tragic passing of Michele and Rob Reiner,” a family spokesman said in a statement on Sunday. “We are heartbroken by this sudden loss, and we ask for privacy during this unbelievably difficult time.”
Former U.S. President Barack, 64, was among the celebrities and politicians who paid tribute to the Reiners late Sunday night.
“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,” Barack wrote via X. “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.”
A source exclusively told Us on Monday that there was some commotion between Rob, Michele and Nick at Conan O’Brien’s holiday party the night before the couple were killed.
Nick allegedly acted “creepily” at the Saturday, December 13, event. “Nick was going up to people at Conan O’Brien’s party asking if they were famous,” a source said, while TMZ reported that Rob and Nick got into an argument which was overheard by other guests.
