In a recent episode of his widely popular podcast “The Joe Rogan Experience,” host Joe Rogan and guests Quentin Tarantino and Roger Avary delved into the public’s mixed reactions following the fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.
During Tuesday’s episode, the group discussed the December 4 incident that occurred on a Midtown Manhattan street, with Rogan attributing the varied public response to the controversial nature of the health insurance industry.
“I don’t think anybody is going to be crying too hard over” Thompson’s death, Avary remarked during the discussion.
“Maybe his family, but that’s about it,” Rogan responded. “It’s a dirty, dirty business. The business of insurance is f***ing gross. It’s gross, especially healthcare insurance.”
The incident has sparked intense public reaction, exposing deep-rooted frustrations with the American healthcare system. Some individuals created GoFundMe pages supporting the suspect, Luigi Mangione, 26, while others composed folk songs about the incident. Social media platforms were flooded with dark humor and celebratory posts.
In a recent viral commentary, comedian Bill Burr highlighted what he perceives as a significant media blind spot in the coverage of the case, pointing to widespread public reaction that has largely gone unreported.
Burr criticized news outlets for failing to address what he describes as “the incredible lack of empathy from the general public” regarding the incident. He attributes this public sentiment to experiences with insurance companies’ handling of claims.
“None of these news programs are talking about the incredible lack of empathy from the general public about this because of how these insurance companies treat people when they are at their most vulnerable after we’ve all given them our money every f**king month,” Burr stated in his characteristic direct style.
The comedian noted that following the incident, many companies began removing executive photos from their websites, a move he viewed as telling. “These p**sies and all of these things are taking the pictures of their CEOs off their websites,” he observed.
Burr’s commentary touched on broader issues regarding corporate responsibility and accountability in the insurance industry. He particularly focused on what he sees as systemic issues in how insurance claims are handled, stating that when people finally need their insurance, “all you do is deny us.”
Burr’s observations raise questions about the disconnect between mainstream media coverage and public reaction to corporate leadership controversies.
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro addressed the public response during a Monday press conference, stating, “He is no hero.” The governor added that it is “disturbing” how many Americans have “looked to celebrate instead of condemning this killer.”
Mangione was apprehended after a six-day manhunt when a McDonald’s employee in Altoona, Pennsylvania recognized him from NYPD-circulated photos. The Ivy League graduate faces second-degree murder charges and additional charges in Pennsylvania.
“I don’t think this guy was a professional,” Rogan speculated. “I think this guy, if I had to guess, was some guy who got f***ed over.”
According to friends, Mangione had struggled with severe back pain and underwent spinal surgery in 2023. He reportedly became disconnected from his social circle afterward, with his mother filing a missing person report just weeks before, according to the San Francisco Standard.
While being escorted into the courthouse for an extradition hearing, where he contested transfer to New York and was denied bail, Mangione shouted, “It’s completely out of touch and an insult to the intelligence of the American people and their lived experience!”
The investigation into the motive continues, with Mangione’s defense attorney indicating an expected not guilty plea to both New York and Pennsylvania charges. Reports indicate that UnitedHealthcare denies approximately one-third of its claims, according to ValuePenguin.
