Kathy Griffin Reflects on Family and Tragic Deaths
Kathy Griffin recently shared her thoughts on family dynamics while remembering the heartbreaking deaths of Rob and Michelle Reiner.
In a YouTube video titled “Remembering Rob Reiner | Condemning Gun Violence”, the comedian expressed outrage over the tragic murder of the Reiners, allegedly committed by their son, Nick Reiner.
“I’ve been holding back on discussing this,” she started, “but I think it’s time. When I first mentioned it in my book, my family wasn’t pleased.” She then shifted topics.
The 65-year-old Griffin, the youngest of five, reminisced about her late parents, John and Maggie, who often appeared on her reality series, “Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List.”
Kathy expressed gratitude that her eldest brother Kenneth has passed away. “He was a violent crack addict, living on the streets, and dealing with severe mental health issues,” she said candidly.
“It was painful to watch my parents try to save him,” she continued, seemingly drawing parallels to the Reiners’ efforts to help Nick amid his struggles with addiction and mental illness.
About Kenneth’s troubling behavior, she recalled that family members had revealed he had physically abused his first wife and implied there were incidents of sexual abuse as well. “Having a brother like that is something you never really get over,” she admitted, reflecting on her thoughts of protecting her own children.
“Blood may be thicker than water, but that hasn’t applied to me. I didn’t want to shield him, and many family members struggled to acknowledge his abusive behavior,” she explained.
Kathy went on to describe her attempts to alert the authorities about her brother’s alleged actions, sharing that she contacted the LAPD frequently. “I honestly don’t know if my family knows the full story,” she added.
Returning to the Reiners, she expressed her reluctance to delve into Rob’s story further, echoing her feelings of helplessness similar to watching her parents’ efforts with Kenneth.
Her comments come in light of the recent discoveries surrounding Rob and Michelle’s tragic deaths, which occurred on December 14. The couple was found with their throats slit at their home, a crime reportedly committed by their daughter, Romy Reiner. Nick was charged the following day with first-degree murder, but has signaled plans to plead not guilty by reason of insanity.
If you or someone you know is affected by any of the issues raised in this article, please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or text START to 88788.
If you or someone you know is affected by any of the issues raised in this article, please call the Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-330-0226.
