The assassination of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson has shocked the nation, but the aftermath has revealed a sharp divide in public opinion. While authorities scramble to capture the masked shooter, online commentary paints a striking picture: for many, the killer is being hailed as a symbol of defiance against the insurance industry.
Thompson, 50, was gunned down outside the Hilton Hotel in Manhattan, with shell casings at the scene bearing the words “depose,” “deny,” and “defend.” The cryptic messages have sparked comparisons to Delay, Deny, Defend, a 2010 exposé on insurance practices accused of prioritizing profits over patients’ lives.
Social media platforms have become hotbeds for criticism of UnitedHealthcare and the industry at large. Posts from nurses, patients, and activists accuse companies of systematic denial of care, linking their grievances to Thompson’s leadership of the largest U.S. health insurer. On Reddit, a post mocking the company’s claims denial process garnered hundreds of responses, including grim parodies like, “Bleeding out isn’t an approved low-cost care pathway.”
TikTok and Twitter have amplified this anger. One ER nurse commented, “After what I’ve seen denied for dying patients, I just can’t feel sympathy.” Others noted the company’s high denial rate—32%, double the industry average—adding fuel to the fire.
Amid the outrage, some have celebrated the shooter as a “man of the people.” Surveillance footage shows a young, hooded suspect described as “gorgeous” by some social media users, leading to bizarre comparisons to Assassin’s Creed protagonists and Hollywood actors. Calls for a “pardon” flooded platforms, with memes and photoshopped TIME Magazine covers of the suspect circulating widely.
A balloon reading “CEO DOWN” with party poppers taped to it was spotted near the scene, symbolizing a grim shift in public sentiment. Online users echoed the sentiment, blaming the healthcare system for creating the conditions that led to the killing.
However, others condemned the reaction. Rep. Dean Phillips called out left-wing “trolls” for celebrating Thompson’s death, warning that such rhetoric undermines constructive debate on healthcare reform.
The NYPD continues its manhunt for the suspect, described as a “person of interest.” Meanwhile, the incident has amplified calls for a universal healthcare system, with critics arguing the for-profit model fuels not only suffering but now, potentially, violence.