No one should celebrate UnitedHealthcare CEO's murder. Where's our humanity? | Opinion
People have reacted with anger and scorn to Brian Thompson's death − not because a husband and father was murdered. But because of his job as head of a major health insurance company.
The news that the CEO of one of the country’s largest health insurance companies was gunned down Wednesday in New York City should have elicited empathy from the public and shock that it happened.
Brian Thompson, 50, was murdered in what police have called a “brazen targeted attack.” As of this writing, the killer remains on the loose and his motives are unknown. Thompson was in Manhattan for UnitedHealth Group’s annual conference.
Yet, people are reacting with anger and scorn to the death − not because a husband and father was fatally shot on a Manhattan sidewalk. But because of the victim's job as head of a major health insurance company.
The callous disregard for a human life is alarming to witness.
Much of the negative reaction can be found on social media, a known cesspool for our worst instincts. Thompson’s death has led to an outpouring ‒ not of sympathy, but of people’s hatred toward health insurers, with grievances over denied claims and perceived greed in the industry.
'People wonder why we want these executives dead.' Seriously?
Let’s take a look at a few of the comments.
"Independent journalist” Ken Klippenstein, said this on X: “Today we remember the legacy of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.” That legacy? A chart of alleged insurance claim denials by company. UnitedHealthcare led the pack.
But why is that relevant in the immediate aftermath of the killing of a human being?
Then Tobita Chow, a social justice activist, observed: “Saw mainstream news coverage about the killing of the CEO of United Healthcare on TikTok and I think political and industry leaders might want to read the comments and think hard about them.”
Those comments, which Chow posted, were ugly, callous missives from people saying Thompson got what he deserved.
The most disgusting, in my opinion, are the social media posts from Taylor Lorenz, a perennially obnoxious presence in the media world. I hate to give her any more attention, but she deserves to be called out because of her past prominence.
Lorenz, until a few months ago, was a reporter at The Washington Post and had previously worked at The New York Times. She’s been given platforms by some of the country’s biggest media companies, so what she says holds more weight than most.
Her big takeaway from Thompson’s murder?
“And people wonder why we want these executives dead,” Lorenz wrote on Bluesky, which linked to a post about how Blue Cross Blue Shield would no longer cover anesthesia for the full length of some surgeries.
She also added this: “People have very justified hatred toward insurance company CEOs because these executives are responsible for an unfathomable amount of death and suffering. As someone against death and suffering, I think it’s good to call out this broken system and the ppl in power who enable it.”
For someone against “death and suffering,” Lorenz showed zero empathy for Thompson.
Remember the reaction to Trump's near-assassination?
All this made me think of reaction to the first assassination attempt on President-elect Donald Trump in July. A bullet grazed the former president’s ear in an attack that nearly ended his life.
Yet, despite the gravity of this violence, the reaction of many proved revolting. On social media, and in emails I received directly, I saw iterations of the sentiment that people wished the shooter hadn’t missed.
In fact, one survey shortly after the shooting found that a third of Democrats polled agreed with the statement, “I wish Trump’s assassin hadn’t missed.”
No matter how much one may dislike or disagree with Trump, it doesn’t justify this kind of violent rhetoric.
The same goes for Thompson, a business executive who absolutely did not deserve to die.
We can and should debate our political differences and highlight ways to improve certain industries.
Celebrating death or violence? That’s beyond the pale.
Ingrid Jacques is a columnist at Paste BN. Contact her at ijacques@usatoday.com or on X: @Ingrid_Jacques.