Michelle Obama recently had to make a public appearance following a tragedy that is shaking Hollywood right now, and she’s facing a lot of backlash for it.
The former First Lady appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live after it was revealed that she and her husband Barack Obama’s “friends,” director Rob Reiner and Michele Reiner, were murdered by their son. Michelle spoke about her friends in an emotional and sentimental way during her late-night talk show interview, where she later promoted her new book. Still, many internet users trolled her for doing it in the first place. Read more about the situation and how her fans came to her defense below.
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Michelle Obama Remembers Her 'Dear Friends' Rob & Michelle Reiner On 'Jimmy Kimmel Live'
Monday night, on December 15th, the Becoming author was a guest on Jimmy Kimmel Live to update the famous talk show host on her life and promote her new fashion photo book, The Look.
However, the night before her appearance, the world was processing the tragic news that approximately one night before, famous Hollywood director Rob Reiner and his wife, photographer Michele Reiner, were found murdered in their home. As investigations progressed, it is believed that their 32-year-old son, Nick, may have been their killer, and he was arrested as a suspect not long after their bodies were discovered.
People from all around the world expressed their sorrow over the news, including former president Barack Obama, who revealed that the Reiners were friends of his and Michelle's, writing in a social media post that they were "heartbroken" by their "tragic passing." While speaking to Jimmy, the podcast host acknowledged their deaths, sharing that she and Barack were actually supposed to see them the night they died, and remembering their talents.
"We've known them for many, many years, and we were supposed to be seeing them that night, last night," she said, before responding to Donald Trump's controversial post about the couple. "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. 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."
The Internet Reacts To Michelle's Television Appearance & Fans Defend Her From Backlash
After the author's interview aired, many internet users, especially those who aren't fans of hers, took to social media to bash her, slamming her for going through with the late-night television interview so soon after the passing of her friends.
"She and her husband insert themselves into everything," commented an X user.
"She's so crushed by the untimely deaths of her two dear friends that she decided to get all dressed up and head over to a comedian's talk show to chat about her grief," added another.
However, other users and fans of the Obamas came to her defense, noting that the talk show appearance was likely a prescheduled plan, and that she's still processing the untimely loss of a friend.
"This wasn't distant Hollywood news," wrote an X user. "These were real relationships, real lives, abruptly erased."
"That makes it even more heartbreaking," added another. "When tragedy hits people, you actually know it stops being news and becomes deeply personal."
One user noted that "this is traumatic for them," and another wrote they were "glad" that Michelle and Barack "spoke out" about the Reinders and their tragic passing. Although many other internet users continue to bash the Look author, her fans are doing their best to turn the narrative back to the famous Hollywood couple and their memory.
