The killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson appears to have added new fuel to an already tense online discourse about wealth, the role of corporations in American health care and power in society.
Thompson, 50, was in New York City to attend an investor conference, where he was shot and killed by a masked assailant.
Days later, the gunman’s location and identity remained unknown, as did the reason for the killing. New York City police say the evidence strongly suggests it was a targeted attack.
Stephen Downing, an assistant professor of criminology and media at Ontario Tech University, said some of the posts were celebratory in nature and that the reactions may reflect people’s frustration with the U.S. health insurance industry.
A thread on the Reddit community inviting people to share their worst experiences with UnitedHealthcare generated hundreds of comments, mostly negative, and more than a thousand upvotes.
“There seems to be some influence here with people sharing their own narratives,” Downing said. “People are weirdly bonding over this.”
Social media users reacted to the murder, with the term “CEOs” trending on social media site X.
“I’ve seen very few posts that sympathize with the victim,” Downing said. “Certainly, there is anti-elite sentiment we see here.”
Although this is a tragedy for those who knew Thompson, the social media reaction is indicative of broader anti-elite social sentiment, Downing said.
He said there were also posts “praising” the shooter.
“I saw a tweet that specifically mentioned Robin Hood. The similarities are not exact, but there is a class element built into it, like us versus them.”
The Associated Press reported that the shooting incident shook American companies and the health insurance industry in particular, prompting companies to reevaluate their security plans and delete photos and biographies of their executives from their websites.
A different Minnesota-based health care company said Friday it will temporarily close its offices out of an abundance of caution, and ask employees to work from home.
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UnitedHealthcare is a multinational insurance and health services company The largest insurance company in the United States.
In 2023, Thompson will receive total compensation of $10.2 million, according to A.J Reveal By UnitedHealth Group. His annual salary, bonuses and stock options awards included.
UnitedHealthcare generated $281 billion in revenue last year.
The murder came amid heightened tensions and anger as income inequality remains an ongoing challenge, and after the US election saw talks about healthcare and health care. Continue to privatize insurance and access to care In the spotlight.
Kaitlin Slavens, an Alberta-based psychologist, said posts glorifying the killer may not be an actual endorsement of violence, but may reflect misplaced anger or desperation.
“In this case, the shooter may symbolize rebellion against a system that people feel has failed them — such as the health care or insurance industries,” she said. “For some, it is easier to justify or glorify such actions than to sit with the helplessness or anger they feel toward Those larger systems.”
Prolonged exposure to an oppressive system or situation — such as being denied life-saving care — can cause people’s collective frustrations to spiral into extremist narratives, said Amy Grant, a therapist based in Cleveland, Ohio. Social media provides an easy space for people to vent.
“Social media amplifies these feelings by creating echo chambers where resentment can turn into dark humor or misplaced affirmation,” she said.
Growing income inequality, stagnant wages and rising prices have led to growing collective anger, Grant said.
“Online spaces provide fertile ground for these feelings to take hold, often through humor, memes and dark satire that make complex issues more accessible. “Social media acts as a pressure valve, allowing people to express their frustrations in ways that feel both rebellious and sectarian,” she said.
Feeling helpless in the face of big business can feel dehumanizing, Slavens said.
Sharing these experiences online can be helpful for some.
“Sharing personal stories, especially about struggles with insurance companies, can be incredibly affirming. It allows people to feel seen and heard while connecting with others who have faced similar experiences,” Slavens said.
“For some, it is a way to reclaim power in a situation that seems dehumanizing, turning their pain into a call for systemic change.”
Anti-elite sentiment is not limited to the United States, said Matthew Polacco, a postdoctoral research fellow at the University of Toronto whose work focuses on the effects of income inequality on political behavior.
Canada has also seen widespread anger since the outbreak of the pandemic.
“It’s definitely on the rise, this dissatisfaction with billionaires, in Canada with grocery stores and rising prices. There’s a perception of collusion on their part.”
It remains unclear where this anger will go next.
Downing said these sentiments could turn into populist political movements in the future.
“There is a move toward populist sentiment,” he said. “If you look at the Occupy Wall Street movement, there were similar or concurrent movements in Canada. I think there will be (more of these movements in the future).”
Polacco said it was unlikely that more violence would follow this incident.
“This is just an isolated incident,” he said. “I don’t think we need to worry about more violence here (in Canada).” “I don’t think this is likely to continue to happen.”
