TMZ’s obsession with the Rob Reiner and Michele Reiner case is weird
TMZ’s constant harping on the death of Rob and Michelle Reiner has gotten excessive. Yes, the tabloid-minded news site has focused on celebrity tragedy over the years. But, this is a little beyond the pale.
Last week, Reiner and his wife were discovered in their California home after being murdered. The alleged assailant is their son, Nick Reiner. Despite the lack of information around this tragedy, outlets have continued to write up every single detail surrounding the case. This is always a tricky subject, as people want to know about what happened to a creative with the stature of Reiner. But, there is a line.
A video of Billy Crystal and his wife visiting Rob Reiner’s home after the news of his death became public garnered a lot of social media traffic for TMZ. But, it also showcases the snow globe effect of how we process tragedy in real time here in the United States. TMZ might be the biggest offender, but they sure aren’t the only one. We, as audiences, can’t seem to get enough of the performance of grief or the spectacle of true loss in our society. It’s hard not to note the crushing effect of 2025 on so many different folks across the spectrum of American life.
For the Reiner family’s part, they issued a statement to CNN asking for privacy as they were navigating this unimaginable loss. The spokesperson wrote, “It is with profound sorrow that we announced the tragic passing of Michelle and Rob Reiner. We are heartbroken by the sudden loss, and we asked for privacy during this unbelievably difficult time.”
TMZ’s obsession with Rob Reiner mirrors our own
Reiner feels like he was one of the most beloved figures in Hollywood. His work on This Is Spinal Tap, When Harry Met Sally, and other films struck a chord with audiences across age demographics and times. So, in an era where it feels like the monoculture is waning, if not outright dead, social media came together to celebrate the life of a beloved creative. Inside of that earnest tribute comes the other side of the coin, people profiting off of engagement bait posts about this sad occurrence. I want to reinforce that, TMZ was perhaps one of the least malicious actors on that side of things.
After all, the sitting president basically heaping dirt on Reiner’s name after the news came out is going to be hard to beat in a limbo competition. But, others were trying anyway. It was wild to see even some of Trump’s supporters chastise him for those boorish social media posts.
This is all amplified by the parasocial relationships we form with celebrities online. Talking to Psychology Today, PH.D Julia Breur, said that we tend to fill in the gaps In their personas. A lot of that is happening for Reiner after his murder. But, that impulse continues, and in turn powers the need for videos like the one that TMZ got a hold of.
“The relationship between one who develops strong feelings about a particular celebrity, sports team or television/cable star is called a parasocial relationship,” the psychotherapist said of these one-sided interactions, “where one person extends emotional energy, interest, and time and the other party or the persona is completely unaware of the other’s existence.”
(featured image: John Lamparski/Getty Images)
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