The murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson appears to have fueled an already tense online discourse about wealth, the role of corporations in American health care and power in society.
Thompson50 years old, was in New York for an investors conference, where he was shot dead by a masked assailant.
A few days later, the whereabouts of the shooter, his identity, and the reason for the murder were still unknown. The New York Police Department says the evidence clearly indicates this was a targeted attack.
Steven Downing, associate professor of criminology and media at Ontario Technological University, said some posts were celebratory in nature and reactions may reflect people’s frustration with the health insurance industry in the United States.
A thread on a Reddit community, inviting people to share their worst experiences with UnitedHealthcare, attracted hundreds of comments, mostly negative, and more than a thousand upvotes.
“There seems to be some effect here when people share their own narratives,” Downing said. “People bond strangely over it.”
Social media users reacted to the killing, with the term “CEO” trending on social media site X.
“I’ve seen very few messages of sympathy for the victim,” Downing said. “There’s definitely an anti-elitist sentiment that we’re seeing here.”
Downing said that while this is a tragedy for those who knew Thompson, the social media reaction indicates broader anti-elite social sentiment.
He said there were also posts “promoting” the shooter.
“I saw a tweet specifically mentioning Robin Hood. The parallels are not exact, but there is an element of class built into it, like an us versus them confrontation,” he said.
The shooting shook corporate America and the health insurance industry in particular, forcing companies to reevaluate their security plans and remove photos and biographies of their executives from their websites. reported the Associated Press.
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Another Minnesota-based health care company announced Friday that it was temporarily closing its offices out of an abundance of caution, asking its employees to work from home.
UnitedHealthcare is a multinational insurance and health services company and is the the largest insurer in the United States.
In 2023, Thompson earned a total compensation of $10.2 million, according to a report. disclosure by the UnitedHealth group. It included his annual salary, bonuses and stock options.
UnitedHealthcare generated $281 billion in revenue last year.
The killing comes amid growing tensions and anger, as income inequality remains a persistent problem. After the US elections, there were discussions about health care and health care. the continued privatization of insurance and access to care in the spotlight.
Caitlin Slavens, an Alberta-based psychologist, said messages valorizing a killer may not constitute a true endorsement of violence but may reflect misplaced anger or despair.
“In this case, the shooter could symbolize rebellion against a system that people view as failing – like health care or insurance. For some, it is easier to justify or glorify such actions than to sit with the helplessness or rage they feel towards these larger systems,” she said.
Amie Grant, a therapist based in Cleveland, Ohio, said prolonged exposure to an oppressive system or situation — such as being denied life-saving care — can lead people’s collective frustrations to spiral into extreme narratives. . Social media provides an easy space for people to express themselves.
“Social media amplifies these feelings by creating echo chambers where resentment can turn into dark humor or misplaced validation,” she said.
Grant said growing income inequality, stagnant wages and rising prices have led to growing collective anger.
“Online spaces provide fertile ground for these feelings to take root, 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 a way that is both rebellious and communal,” she said.
Feeling powerless against big business can feel dehumanizing, Slavens said.
Sharing these experiences online can be cathartic for some.
“Sharing personal stories, especially about struggles with insurance companies, can be incredibly empowering. It allows people to feel seen and heard while connecting with others who have had similar experiences,” Slavens said.
“For some, it’s a way to regain power over a situation that feels dehumanizing, transforming their pain into a call for systemic change.”
Matthew Polacko, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Toronto whose work focuses on the effects of income inequality on political behavior, said anti-elite sentiments are not limited to the United States.
Canada has also witnessed latent anger since the pandemic.
“This discontent with billionaires, in Canada with grocery stores and rising prices, is definitely on the rise. There is this perception of collusion on their part,” he said.
Where this anger goes next remains unclear.
Downing said these sentiments may well turn into populist political movements in the future.
“There is a movement towards populist sentiments,” he said. “If you look at Occupy Wall Street, there were similar or simultaneous movements in Canada. I think there will be (more such movements in the future). »
Polacko said it was unlikely that more violence would follow this incident.
“This is more of an isolated incident,” he said. “I don’t think we need to worry about an increase in violence here (in Canada). I don’t think that’s going to continue to happen.