Friend of Rob Reiner explains what really happened at Hollywood party argument hours before death
A family friend to the Reiners has shed light on the Hollywood party argument, which reportedly took place between Rob and his son, Nick Reiner, hours before he is accused of murdering his parents.
Nick has been charged with the first-degree murder of his parents Rob and Michele Reiner, appearing in court yesterday where it was announced his arraignment would be pushed to early next year.
Rob and Michele's two other children, Romy and Jake, released a heartbreaking statement saying that ‘words cannot even begin to describe the unimaginable pain [they] are experiencing every moment of the day.’
In the wake of the tragedy, it has been reported that just hours before the film director and his wife's deaths, they attended Conan O’Brien’s Christmas party with Nick.
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The party, which took place hours before the Reiners' deaths, has become a key focus of discussion around the incident, with Nick and his father reported to have gotten into a furious argument.
Multiple sources have pointed to Nick’s bizarre behaviour at the party, including going up to attendees and asking them three odd questions each.
This saw him ask the celebrities in attendance: "What's your name? What's your last name? Are you famous?"
Whilst an exact time of death has not been ascertained at the time of writing, reports range from shortly after the Reiners returned from the Hollywood party to the early hours of the following morning, meaning it is sure to be a big focus in the upcoming case.
One of the Reiner’s family friends has since come forward, however, contradicting prior reports claiming that the argument between Nick and Rob was particularly heated.
Speaking to the New York Times under the condition of anonymity, but described as a ‘person close to the family’, they contradicted multiple prior reports.
One widespread report had stated that Nick’s behaviour had become erratic in the weeks leading up to the incident, but they said that ‘nothing in recent weeks suggested that Nick… would be capable of such violence’.
The report went on to say: “The person disputed accounts that suggested the family had been especially apprehensive in recent weeks about Nick Reiner’s behaviour.
“Nick Reiner had struggled for more than half of his life with drug addiction, but the person close to the family said they were accustomed to working through his problems together.”
Whilst they did not disagree with reports that Rob and Nick had a dispute over his behaviour in which he went up to guests and asked if they were famous, the report added that ‘Rob and Nick Reiner did not have a heated argument and that the episode was being overblown’.
They went on to say: “The intensity of any conversation that might have taken place between father and son may have been misinterpreted.
“He took issue with news accounts that suggested the family might have left the party early because of the son’s behaviour.
“Nick Reiner’s behaviour at the party, the person said, was not unusual to the Reiners, who had grown used to it over the years.”
Nick will next appear in court January 7, 2026, where he is expected to make a plea.
Topics: Crime, TV and Film, Celebrity, US News
Michael Slavin