Sponsored message
Logged in as
Audience-funded nonprofit news
radio tower icon laist logo
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
Subscribe
  • Listen Now Playing Listen

This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.

This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.

News

Someone Hacked Rob Reiner's Very Liberal Twitter To Endorse Trump

robreinerchair.jpg
Rob Reiner (Photo by Rob Kim/Getty Images)

One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.


You know how sometimes your immature friend finds your Facebook open and pens a controversial status that is totally unlike you and also sort of embarrassing? Apparently someone did that to actor/director Rob Reiner, hacking his Twitter feed to post an endorsement for Trump. Reiner, who has directed such films as Stand By Me, The Princess Bride and And So It Goes, is very much not a Trump fan. In fact, he usually tweets things like this:

Reiner has been a liberal political activist for sometime. He supported Al Gore in the 2000 election, and endorsed Hillary Clinton in this one, as he did in 2008. He was a co-founder of American Foundation for Equal Rights, which supported the plaintiffs in a federal lawsuit against 2008's Prop 8, which banned same-sex marriage in the state of California. He also campaigned for Prop 10, which would lead to the creation of First 5 California, which uses tobacco taxes to fund childhood education.

Reiner recently appeared on MSNBC's AM Joy where Reiner called Trump a "complete and utter failure as a businessman" and a man who gives a "bullhorn" to racism.

I believe that what we've done, what we've seen, is the last throes of the Civil War. We're fighting the last battles, and Donald Trump is leading the way for white nationalism. And it's sad because people are hanging on to this idea of a white America, immigrant-free America. It's scary and sad, but I believe we will win it.
Sponsored message

So, we're sure his quick change of heart surprised some people, but was perceived as a hack or joke by most.

Now the question is, who exactly was behind this hack? Some people have theories.

One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.

You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.

If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief

Make your tax-deductible donation today