UnitedHealth Group head calls Brian Thompson 'one of the good guys' amid backlash in leaked email

UnitedHealth CEO Brian Thompson was praised as "one of the good guys" in a leaked email amid growing backlash.

The head of UnitedHealth Group, the parent company of UnitedHealthcare, referred to the late CEO Brian Thompson as "one of the good guys" in a memo to employees.  

Luigi Mangione, 26, was arrested Monday afternoon at a fast food restaurant in Altoona, Pennsylvania, on firearm charges, five days after allegedly shooting and killing Thompson, 50, outside a Manhattan hotel.  

Following the shooting, many people expressed outrage online over the company’s history of denying necessary treatments, particularly under Thompson’s leadership, while some praised the gunman for his actions.  

Andrew Witty, the CEO of UnitedHealth Group, has repeatedly attempted to address the backlash against Thompson in the wake of his death and did so again in a memo sent to staff on Wednesday.  

"Brian was one of the good guys. He was certainly one of the smartest guys. I think he was one of the best guys. I'm going to miss him. And I am incredibly proud to call him my friend," Witty wrote.  

The letter did not mention the criticism directed at Thompson and the company but instead focused on praising the former CEO.  

"Many have said that we're all a little better for knowing Brian. There is no truer statement than that. As we begin to move forward, the best way to honor his life and all that he stood for is to carry on his legacy — continuing to do right by the people who've entrusted us with their care and those who are counting on us to take care of their loved ones."  

Witty also emphasized the responsibility of employees to honor Thompson’s legacy by delivering on their commitment to improving health care.  

"We're going to make sure medicines are filled, infusions are administered and people can navigate their therapies for the rarest states of disease," Witty wrote, adding, "And we'll be there when people are coming out of the hospital — if only just to hold their hand as they get back on their feet."  

Social media users continued to criticize Thompson in comments on a post by independent journalist Ken Klippenstein, who had shared the memo.  

"Ain't no such thing as a 'good guy' healthcare CEO," one user commented.  

Another wrote: "If you have to repeatedly insist someone was a good person instead of just clearly laying out the good they did, they weren't a good person."