The United States witnessed a nationwide manhunt last week for Luigi Mangione, the alleged shooter of UnitedHealthcare executive Brian Thompson. On Monday, authorities apprehended Mangione, who has garnered significant support on social media platforms.
Posts on X, such as one by user @LolOverruled declaring Mangione a hero, received substantial engagement. A lookalike contest was organized in New York, and Amazon briefly sold merchandise featuring phrases found on the bullet casings used by the shooter.
This public sentiment reflects widespread frustration with the U.S. healthcare system, where many share negative experiences with insurers. UnitedHealthcare, notably criticized for denying claims, faced backlash, leading its parent company to disable comments on its social media statements.
Political figures have expressed concern over Mangione’s popularity, with Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro condemning the violence. Meanwhile, the McDonald’s employee who reported Mangione faces online harassment.
Source: NOS