No, UnitedHealth Group didn't take down its tribute to CEO Brian Thompson | Fact check
The claim: UnitedHealth Group took down its tribute to Brian Thompson
A Dec. 5 Facebook post (direct link, archive link) includes an image showing UnitedHealth Group's Facebook post paying tribute to its late CEO Brian Thompson after he was fatally shot in New York in early December.
“We are deeply saddened and shocked at the passing of our dear friend and colleague Brian Thompson,” reads the start of the company's post. “Brian was a highly respected colleague and friend to all who worked with him.”
The image also includes a screenshot of an X post responding to the statement.
“All-time great ratio,” the post reads. “They pulled the post down when it got to about 21,000 laughing emojis.”
The Facebook post was shared more than 60 times in less than four weeks. The X version of the claim was reposted more than 4,000 times.
Fact check roundup: Debunking false claims about UnitedHealthcare CEO shooting
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Our rating: False
The post commemorating Thompson was still on the company’s Facebook account as of Dec. 31.
Both UnitedHealth Group, UnitedHealthcare kept tribute posts up
Thompson was fatally shot in midtown Manhattan on Dec. 4, prompting a days-long search for the shooter. Luigi Mangione, 26, was arrested in connection to the shooting and later charged with state and federal crimes. He pleaded not guilty to New York state charges, and his Pennsylvania-based attorney previously said he intended to do the same in the commonwealth.
The shooting and its aftermath prompted discussion, particularly on social media, about the U.S. healthcare system in general and UnitedHealth Group specifically.
But contrary to the post’s claim, the company didn’t delete its tribute to Thompson in light of criticism.
An archived version of UnitedHealth Group’s Dec. 4 post showed it was still visible on the following day, when the Facebook claim was made. It was still up as of Dec. 31.
The post, which has comments disabled, also said the company was working with the New York Police Department as it investigated the shooting.
UnitedHealthcare, which is a division of UnitedHealth Group, shared the post on its own Facebook page, which was also still visible as of Dec. 31.
Fact check: Viral images don't show Luigi Mangione's manifesto, which was handwritten
Paste BN has debunked an array of claims related to the shooting, including false assertions that an authentic image showed a UnitedHealthcare job listing for a new CEO and that a video showed Thompson talking about California Democratic Rep. Nancy Pelosi.
Paste BN reached out to the user who shared the post for comment but did not immediately receive a response.
Check Your Fact and Reuters also debunked the claim.
Our fact-check sources
- UnitedHealth Group, Dec. 5, Facebook post
- UnitedHealthcare, Dec. 4, Facebook post
- UnitedHealth Group, Dec. 4, Facebook post
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