Over the weekend, a grim headline raced through social feeds. Posts claimed that filmmaker Rob Reiner, 78, and his wife, Michele, 68, died in their Los Angeles home. The same reports said their son faced murder charges. The details felt shocking. They also felt oddly familiar in today’s loud, fast news cycle.

Then the conversation turned political. Commentators pointed to a Truth Social message attributed to President Donald Trump. They said he used the moment to insult Reiner instead of honoring a life in the arts. As people argued online, the word “disgusting” surfaced again and again.

Meanwhile, an older clip of Reiner began to circulate. In the video, he spoke about the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Reiner did not dodge the horror. Instead, he named it plainly. He insisted that violence never solves disagreement. He also made room for empathy, even across a deep divide.

That contrast landed hard. One voice chose restraint and humanity. Another, critics said, chose ridicule.

Ultimately, many viewers were left with a quieter takeaway. Politics may shape our opinions. However, decency should shape our behavior. In moments of loss, people remember who offered grace.