Social media erupts with support for gunman after United Healthcare CEO’s assassination

In recent days, social media platforms have seen a notable increase in discussions surrounding the assassination of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson, with many users celebrating his death and even rooting for the unidentified gunman to avoid capture.

Read more: UnitedHealthcare CEO killed in apparent assassination

Many expressed support for the act, claiming that it is a form of retribution against the American healthcare system, which they perceive as failing to meet the needs of citizens.

Following the news of Thompson’s death, users took to various forums to express their anger towards the healthcare system, citing personal experiences with insurance denials and rising medical costs.

A pediatric subspecialist, whose identity was confirmed by the American news outlet The Daily Beast, even wrote on a Reddit forum about the widespread grief that United Healthcare has caused, especially under Thompson's leadership.

"I cannot even guess how many person-years UHC has taken from patients and their families through denials," the doctor wrote. "It has to be on the order of millions. His death won’t make that better, but it’s hard for me to sympathize when so many people have suffered because of his company."

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With the widespread online surge of support for the gunmen, six masked men organized a look-alike contest in New York City, a new trend that blew up following a Timothée Chalamet look-alike contest.

(Masked gunman look-alike contest (Credit: X))

Here are some online reactions:

I’m sorry but the CEO of one of the worlds most evil healthcare cover providers being assassinated by a masked gunman who’d etched the companies evil motto (Deny, Defend, Depose) on the bullet casings is COOL AS FUCK

He’s a fucking rockstar and I hope he never gets caught

— Horse (@lorsehatitudes) December 5, 2024

update: it has now been revealed to the public that the gunman is hot and has a dazzling smile pic.twitter.com/8q5upkgTk4

— Livster  bloodpacts.eth (@0xLivster) December 5, 2024

The NYPD is going to start profiling tall, dark, and handsome men with big noses now that the photo of the suspected gunman is out… if you fit the profile and feel unsafe you can seek refuge in my apartment 

— oomf magazine (@oomfmagazine) December 5, 2024

Gunman riding away on a city bike, bullets engraved, Monopoly money in the backpack, face being shown bc he was flirting, and a look-alike contest. This is the best assassination we’ve had in a while

— pit stain (@ibs_ally) December 8, 2024

me liking tweets celebrating the assassination of the united healthcare ceo pic.twitter.com/N41w51ZuZR

—  (@pegasustits) December 5, 2024

People have been so happy on here the past few days I think it might be the first time UnitedHealthcare has ever helped with mental health

— gianmarco (@GianmarcoSoresi) December 7, 2024

Today, we mourn the death of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson, gunned down.... wait, I'm sorry - today we mourn the deaths of the 68,000 Americans who needlessly die each year so that insurance company execs like Brian Thompson can become multimillionaires.

— Prof Zenkus (@anthonyzenkus) December 4, 2024

My dad battled prostate cancer, and UnitedHealthcare denied him experimental treatments that might have saved his life. I don’t have sympathy for that CEO because there was none for my father, who fought to the very end and lost his battle with cancer. Fuck that CEO

— Andre X  (@LakeShowBoy24) December 6, 2024

The people who died because United Healthcare denied them coverage are also human beings with families https://t.co/jLqD9Vodsz

— evan loves worf (@esjesjesj) December 4, 2024

My only question is did the CEO of United Healthcare die quickly or over several months waiting to find out if his insurance would cover his treatment for the fatal gunshot wound?

— Ian MacAllen (@IanMacAllen) December 4, 2024

Just a friendly reminder that in 2024, Brian Thompson's leadership led United Healthcare to deny claims to 31.5 million sick Americans. By contrast, undocumented migrants in the USA killed fewer than 20 US citizens during that same time span.

Who is your real enemy, America?

— Alisa Valdes-Rodriguez, Author (@AlisaValdesRod1) December 4, 2024