New York's unexpected hero: The CEO's shooter and public sympathy

Look-alike contests for well-known individuals have recently gained popularity on TikTok. People have already sought those who resemble Timothée Chalamet, Zayn Malik, or Zendaya. Similarly, in New York on December 7, a contest was held for those resembling a man who gained notoriety just three days earlier. The irony is that no one knows exactly what he looks like.

The New York contest aimed to find individuals resembling the man who shot Brian Thompson on December 4, the CEO of UnitedHealthcare, a health insurance company. By December 7, the suspect was still at large, with authorities possessing only a few partial images of his face. The reaction of Americans to this murder might be perplexing unless one understands the healthcare system in the United States.

Across all social media platforms, from TikTok to Twitter and Facebook, where primarily the older generation is active, expressions of sympathy for Thompson are hard to come by. Instead, the killer has been met with almost unanimous understanding. Posts sarcastically summarizing that "sympathy is not in my benefits package" have garnered hundreds of thousands of likes.

UnitedHealthcare, where Thompson served as an executive, is an insurance company that reportedly denies over 30 per cent of claims. In the United States, private health insurance is the norm, and the legal system permits the denial of claims if objections can be identified. Even insured Americans often face additional out-of-pocket expenses for treatments, frequently beyond their financial means.

Instead of sympathy, social media was inundated with stories from people whom UnitedHealthcare (or other insurers) denied life-saving treatments. Voices also emerged from those who lost loved ones due to coverage denial by insurance companies. According to Gallup data, only 55 per cent of Americans have access to adequate healthcare.

The mysterious killer has become a sort of spokesperson for the widespread frustration among U.S. residents concerning their living conditions. The words "deny," "defend," "depose" were engraved on the three bullet casings he fired with a silencer-equipped gun, referencing the legal tactics used by insurers to minimize payouts.

Other aspects also contribute to the popularity of the man who shot Thompson. Internet users noted that during a New York City police press conference, there seemed to be almost a nod of approval regarding how efficiently the killer unjammed his gun after the first shot. The man reportedly fled the scene on a city bike and, as of December 8, remains elusive despite the FBI's involvement in the case.

The photos released by authorities do not provide a full view of the suspect's face, but even the fragments suggest he might be attractive. The first image released by the police was a frame from a hostel camera where the man allegedly stayed the day before the murder. It depicts him flashing a radiant smile at the receptionist, with whom he flirted. Comments on social media indicate that "TikTok detectives" are not inclined to assist authorities in tracking him down. Comments further suggest, "sharp vision isn't in my benefits package," and "I don't feel like this man is a threat to me."

The most intriguing part of this situation is that even under the comments of popular YouTubers known for spreading far-right propaganda, something occurred that seemed impossible just a week earlier. Both Ben Shapiro and Matt Walsh recorded videos attempting to criticize the "far left" reactions to the news of the insurance CEO's shooting.

In the comments below those videos, viewers overwhelmingly dismissed Shapiro's and Walsh's perspectives. They highlighted that the issue of a profit-driven, predatory healthcare system affects all Americans, regardless of ideology and political beliefs. Moreover, the way these YouTubers attempted to "frame" the topic was seen as so implausible and unacceptable that the most popular comment under Ben Shapiro's video stated, "I just realized that your entire business model relies on us, ordinary people, hating each other."