A viral Instagram video calling on Americans to resist what its creator calls the “normalization of cruelty” is gaining traction online.
The video arrives as backlash continues over President Donald Trump’s comments following the killing of filmmaker and actor Rob Reiner and his wife in Southern California.
The video, posted by @marlatalks, is framed as an emotional appeal rather than a partisan argument.
“What I’m begging is that we please not normalize what is happening to us right now,” the speaker says, urging viewers to remain grounded in empathy amid relentless political conflict, violent crime, and incendiary rhetoric from public leaders.
Her message comes days after Trump drew bipartisan criticism for a social media post reacting to Reiner’s death, which authorities have said is being treated as a domestic homicide.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that Reiner, 78, and his wife, Michele Singer, were found dead in their home on Dec. 14. Their 32-year-old son, Nick Reiner, has been charged with murder and is being held without bail. Investigators have said there is no indication the killings were politically motivated.
Trump’s comments spark outrage
Less than 24 hours after news of Reiner’s death broke, Trump posted on Truth Social that the filmmaker’s death was “reportedly due to the anger he caused others,” referencing what he derisively called “Trump Derangement Syndrome.” Speaking later at the White House, Trump doubled down, describing Reiner as “a deranged person” and dismissing criticism of his remarks.
The response was swift. Lawmakers from both parties, along with actors, writers, and mental health advocates, condemned the comments as inappropriate, particularly given the circumstances of an active homicide investigation and a grieving family.
A broader warning about desensitization
In her video, @marlatalks does not focus narrowly on Reiner alone. Instead, she frames the moment as part of a larger national crisis—one marked by daily exposure to mass shootings, harsh political language, and public indifference to suffering.
“It is not normal for the human brain and the human nervous system to deal with this much chaos every single day,” she says, urging viewers to “reject this” rather than excuse it as the cost of modern politics.
“Shame on you; for choosing cruelty and excuses over empathy when the country most needs conscience.”
She also speaks from personal experience as a parent, referencing the pain families endure when adult children struggle with serious challenges—an allusion many viewers interpreted as a call for compassion rather than blame in the Reiner case.
Culture, politics, and responsibility
Rob Reiner, best known for directing The Princess Bride, When Harry Met Sally… and A Few Good Men, had long been a vocal critic of Trump and an active supporter of progressive causes. But critics argue that political disagreements do not justify dehumanizing rhetoric, particularly in moments of tragedy.
The viral response highlights a growing unease among Americans who fear that political language—especially when modeled by those in power—is reshaping social norms.
While Trump’s supporters defend his blunt style as free speech, others warn that repeated attacks framed in psychological or moral terms risk inflaming division and eroding basic standards of decency.
As @marlatalks puts it in her closing message: “This is the most critical time we will ever face as people and as a nation. How are you going to show up? Show up for peace.”
