Memes and dark humor emerge after UnitedHealth CEO fatal shooting in NYC

Following the tragic shooting of UnitedHealth CEO Brian Thompson, social media users responded with memes.

The recent shooting death of Brian Thompson, CEO of UnitedHealth's insurance division, in New York City has shocked the public. Thompson was gunned down outside the Hilton Hotel in Midtown Manhattan on Wednesday, just hours before a major conference hosted by his company. Authorities believe the attack was targeted, with Thompson suffering a fatal chest wound before being rushed to a nearby hospital.

My only question is did the CEO of United Healthcare die quickly or over several months waiting to find out if his insurance would cover his treatment for the fatal gunshot wound?

— Ian MacAllen (@IanMacAllen) December 4, 2024

https://t.co/B9J19TAGu7 pic.twitter.com/XYPRA23x5C

— Ken Klippenstein (@kenklippenstein) December 4, 2024

In the wake of the tragedy, social media was flooded with memes and dark humor, often linked to frustrations over the U.S. healthcare system. Some online users sarcastically questioned whether Thompson's insurance would have covered his own treatment, while others poked fun at the complexities of insurance policies. One popular meme read, "I hope the CEO was on the phone with his insurance before getting in an ambulance to make sure the hospital was in-network."

In United States, when a healthcare CEO is assassinated, everyone laughs pic.twitter.com/NuiVaSO2XM

— Rap Game Edward Bernays (@Edward__Bernays) December 4, 2024

Im about to say some OFF SHIT about a major health insurance CEO being murdered in the streets pic.twitter.com/UhZiU1vsUw

— 🎮LZ (@LZatYT) December 4, 2024

This use of humor, while dark, highlighted a larger public dissatisfaction with healthcare in the United States. Many memes drew attention to the confusing and restrictive nature of insurance policies, mocking how they often fail to provide clarity or adequate coverage in crucial moments. One meme joked that Thompson’s insurance would only cover injuries in certain areas of Manhattan, emphasizing the absurdity of complex and sometimes arbitrary policy rules. Another drew comparisons to other recent insurance controversies, such as Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield’s refusal to cover anesthesia for surgeries that ran long.

The memes were not just a form of humor, but a way to voice frustrations about the healthcare system's failings. They served as a critique of the industry, especially in light of the fact that someone at the top of a major health insurance company fell victim to the very system they helped shape.

Thompson’s wife, Paulett, revealed that her husband had been receiving threats before the shooting. While the exact details of these threats remain unclear, they underscore the challenging and sometimes dangerous environment in which high-level executives in the healthcare industry operate.