Ethel Cain defends alleged UnitedHealthcare CEO shooter Luigi Mangione: 'Violence begets violence'

The indie singer’s remarks ignite debate on corporate greed and the morality of violent protest.

Police have identified Luigi Mangione, a 26-year-old Maryland native, as the prime suspect in the recent fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. 

Arrested at a McDonald’s in Altoona, Pennsylvania, Mangione was found in possession of fraudulent IDs, a U.S. passport, and a firearm and suppressor "consistent with the weapon used in the murder," according to NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch.

Despite the severity of the charges, Mangione has garnered an unusual wave of online support. Social media has been flooded with memes and posts lauding Mangione, some even hailing him as a "hero" for allegedly targeting corporate greed in the healthcare industry. 

One user on X wrote, “He took action against private health insurance corporations is what he did. He was a brave Italian martyr. In this house, Luigi Mangione is a hero, end of story!”

Another user tweeted, "Luigi Mangione basically killing the CEO of the insurance that f***ed over his grandparents. That man is a hero and avenged their deaths. FREE HIM."

Adding to the discourse, indie singer Ethel Cain took a public stance in defense of Mangione. Sharing a graphic on her Instagram story, Cain wrote: "These companies don't care about you, or your kids, or your grandkids. They have zero qualms about burning down the planet for a buck, so why should we have any qualms about burning them down to survive?"

She further elaborated: "We're animals just like everything else on this planet, except we've forgotten the law of the jungle and bend over for our overlords when any other animal would recognize the threat and fight to the death for their survival. 'Violence never solved anything' is a statement uttered by cowards and predators."

Cain captioned the post with her own statement, "Violence begets violence."

ethel cain on the unitedhealthcare ceo murder:

"violence begets violence" pic.twitter.com/RcEpejmdJY

— ethel cains fly (@ethelfiles) December 9, 2024

The singer’s controversial comments quickly went viral, sparking both admiration and backlash. Many of her fans supported her outspoken stance, with one commenting, “Ethel is always on the right side of history.” Another added, “This is why I stan her.”

While Mangione remains in custody, NYPD detectives are traveling to Pennsylvania to interrogate the suspect. 

As the investigation unfolds, the internet remains divided, with some viewing Mangione’s actions as a grim commentary on systemic issues and others condemning the violence outright.