Rob Reiner has died

Legacy and Emotional Impact

• Many commenters describe deep shock and sadness, emphasizing not just his death but the horrific manner of it.
• His body of work is repeatedly called out as unusually strong and culturally formative: “This Is Spinal Tap,” “The Princess Bride,” “When Harry Met Sally,” “Stand By Me,” “Misery,” “A Few Good Men,” “Sleepless in Seattle,” and “All in the Family” are cited over and over.
• Several note how often they’ve revisited “The Princess Bride” with family, how quotable it is, and how his films shaped their sense of humor and taste.
• Some recall first seeing him as “Meathead” and later being surprised at the scope of his directing career.

Circumstances of Death and Family Tragedy

• Commenters discuss reports that he and his wife were killed, apparently stabbed, with early stories suggesting no sign of forced entry.
• A major point of discussion is reporting that their son, who had spoken publicly about past drug addiction and homelessness, was involved or suspected; some initially question the sourcing, others point to additional outlets confirming it, and later posts mention his booking on suspicion of murder.
• Several people reflect on how unimaginably cruel it is to survive a child’s addiction crisis, reconcile, and then face this outcome. One commenter connects it to a similar murder in their own life and the long-lasting trauma for survivors.

Addiction, Homelessness, and Mental Health

• One commenter uses the case to argue that simply giving housing or money won’t solve homelessness when addiction and severe mental illness are involved.
• Others push back, saying individual anecdotes are not representative and citing survey data that many homeless people primarily face economic barriers; debates follow on housing costs vs. employment as root causes.
• Some note that, in earlier eras, someone like the son might have been institutionalized, for better or worse.

Media Coverage, Sourcing, and Anonymity

• There is extended discussion about the reliability of outlets (People, Rolling Stone vs. wire services) and how quickly to trust anonymously sourced crime reporting.
• Commenters criticize police and media for effectively identifying the victims via age and residence before official confirmation, seeing it as a technical workaround of notification rules.
• Broader arguments emerge about anonymous sources, past high-profile reporting failures, and the tension between speed and accuracy.

Journalism, Economics, and Public Expectations

• A long tangent explores how audiences demand fast, perfectly accurate, neutral, and free news, while distrusting anonymous sources and retractable errors.
• Some argue journalism is held to impossible standards; others counter that declining trust stems from real failures, corporate ownership, and click-driven incentives.
• Comparisons are made to other professions (teachers, doctors, referees) that face similar unrealistic public expectations.
• There is debate over whether earlier eras of journalism were better, or just had different economics (local monopolies, strong print revenue) that insulated newsrooms.

Political Reaction

• Several posts condemn a social-media statement from the former president blaming the killing on the director’s opposition to him, calling it sociopathic or deranged.
• A few note that even some politically opposed communities reacted negatively to that statement, seeing it as beyond normal “politicizing a tragedy.”