Late Night Hosts Respond to the Tragic Deaths of Rob and Michele Reiner
On Monday evening, several late-night television hosts expressed their condolences following the tragic deaths of Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele. The couple was killed over the weekend, and the news cast a somber tone across the shows.
In addition to honoring the Reiners, hosts like Jimmy Kimmel and Seth Meyers criticized President Donald Trump for his controversial remarks regarding the incident. Trump suggested that the deaths were related to Reiner’s outspoken criticism of him, despite no evidence linking politics to the tragedy. Their son, Nick Reiner, is currently in custody in connection with their deaths.
Kimmel described Reiner as “one of our greatest directors and patriots,” emphasizing the need for compassion and leadership during such times. He criticized Trump for lacking these qualities, stating, “Instead, we got a fool rambling about nonsense.”
Trump’s response included a statement blaming Reiner’s death on “Trump Derangement Syndrome.” Kimmel responded, “Just when you think he can’t go any lower, he somehow found a way to do that,” criticizing the insensitivity of blaming a murder victim for their own death.
Kimmel continued, “It’s so hateful and vile, when I first saw it, I thought it was fake.” He expressed disbelief at Trump’s capacity for insensitivity.
Michelle Obama appeared on Kimmel’s show, revealing that she and Barack Obama were supposed to meet the Reiners the night they were killed. She praised the couple as “decent, courageous people” who cared deeply about fairness and equity.
On “Late Night with Seth Meyers,” the host shared his admiration for the Reiners, describing them as “delightful people to be in a room with.” Meyers criticized Trump’s reaction as “even worse than I could have imagined.”
Meyers commented, “The president made it about himself because he’s incapable of making it about anything else,” lamenting the lack of moral leadership.
Meanwhile, on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon,” Fallon remembered Reiner’s appearances on the show, highlighting his warmth and humor. “What a tremendous loss,” Fallon said, praising Reiner’s lasting legacy.
Stephen Colbert briefly addressed the weekend’s tragic news, including the Reiners’ deaths, acknowledging the darkness of the headlines while maintaining the show’s comedic spirit, stating, “We are going to do a comedy show tonight, in light of — and in spite of — the darkness.”
