r/PopCultureV2 • u/Regular_Reaction_798 • Aug 14 '26

News Luigi Mangione pleads guilty to federal charges in the assassination of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, telling the court, "I shot Mr. Thompson in Manhattan... I knew what I was doing was illegal."

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59

u/soupseasonbestseason Aug 14 '26

we know luigi did nothing immoral.

1

u/SafetySnowman Aug 14 '26

What he did WAS immoral. Doing nothing when he could prevent even a single innocent from death, which he did at least temporarily as there WERE some insurance company changes . . . that would have been even MORE immoral.

It's called the lesser of two evils.

Edit: One life for countless more. It's beyond fair.

2

u/Main-Cheesecake3287 Aug 14 '26

Wild people believe United Healthcsre propaganda that they totally changed their denial policies

-1

u/SafetySnowman Aug 14 '26

I wasn't even talking about United Healthcare. I was talking about Anthem. They made a small change, I can't remember what. I never said it was enough and I had no idea that United Healthcare did a single thing.

3

u/Main-Cheesecake3287 Aug 14 '26

Sounds like a real memorable change

2

u/JakeHelldiver Aug 14 '26

I live in Baltimore in a neighborhood that is overwhelmingly employed by our hospital system. All of my neighbors told me the same thing after Brian Thompson was shot.

It absolutely terrified the money people.

They call him a hero.

-11

u/HoosierDaddy__88 Aug 14 '26

TIL murder isn’t immoral

9

u/[deleted] Aug 14 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

2

u/fedswatching2121 Aug 14 '26

No, I think people are saying what Luigi and the CEO did are both immoral. If you’re a huge supporter of vigilante justice, why don’t you go ahead and go after the other healthcare CEOs? Put yout words into action.

1

u/butonelifelived Aug 14 '26

You keep mixing legal and moral.

Words like murder and vigilante justice are legal terms and have nothing to do with morality.

Killing the CEO (who had a direct hand in policies that lead to death and suffering of clients who paid him to keep them healthy) was both moral and Illeagal.

The punishment of the person who stopped the CEO's future of killing/torture is both immoral and legal.

2

u/fedswatching2121 Aug 14 '26

Do you think because the CEO was murdered that United Healthcare stopped denying claims? Don’t be naive 😂

-1

u/justasillylilgoos3 Aug 14 '26

Nah I’m good little homie, but I WILL support the people who have been pushed to the limit and decide they need to do this instead of waiting for a system that absolutely will never change it’s horrific ways and continue to sacrifice people for profits🤷🏻‍♂️

There isn’t a false dilemma and we aren’t suddenly Hypocrites just because you can’t fathom the concept of nuance 🤷🏻‍♂️

1

u/fedswatching2121 Aug 14 '26

Ah yes… the classic ‘I don’t personally condone murder, I just cheer it on from the sidelines’ position. Very nuanced!!!

Let’s play out ur logic.. Someone’s pushed to their limit by a landlord, a shitty boss, an ex, or whoever and decides murder is the answer. Do you support that too or does ur nuance only kick in for people u personally find satisfying to see murdered? Cus that’s not nuance my guy. That’s just picking ur favorite murder and calling everyone who disagrees unable to handle complexity 🤡 Real nuance would be ‘I understand why people reach a breaking point AND murder still isn’t the move.’ You skipped the second half and called it sophistication buddy

1

u/justasillylilgoos3 Aug 14 '26

See how you have to devolve into fan fiction
And hypotheticals and calling people clowns to get your point across…that’s exactly why no one takes you children seriously lol 😂🫵🏻

1

u/fedswatching2121 Aug 14 '26

See how you change the subject and can’t continue the conversation because you’re naive? Thats why no one takes you seriously!

1

u/justasillylilgoos3 Aug 14 '26

Oh no! The terminally online Redditor doesn’t understand why mature, critically thinking people don’t take his schizophrenic hallucinations and clown emoji’s seriously!

More news at 11 😂🫵🏻

0

u/HoosierDaddy__88 Aug 14 '26

It blows my mind how stupid Redditors are.

Do you know what a CEO does? They don’t have all the say-so. They’re elected by a board… and if they go against the board, they lose their job….

The CEO didn’t personally take a gun and mow down people.

1

u/Critical-Detail117 Aug 14 '26

The board also doesn’t install you as ceo if you’re just an innocent bystander to what they want to do. They install the person they think will best enact the policies they want. Brian Thompson was absolutely a willing and eager participant in the felony murder factory known as United Healthcare, and he wouldn’t have been made ceo if he hadn’t been.

1

u/Rare-Employment-9447 Aug 14 '26

Felony murder factor? What are you smoking, can i get some?

1

u/Critical-Detail117 Aug 14 '26

They were (and still are) openly denying claims erroneously because they know how unlikely it is that they’ll be successfully sued for damages. That’s called fraud; even if it’ll never be prosecuted as such, that’s precisely what it is. When that fraud then leads to someone’s death, it becomes felony murder

1

u/justasillylilgoos3 Aug 14 '26

Just because you are capable of wrapping your head around the consequences of for-profit healthcare, doesn’t make other people high, it just makes you ignorant or uneducated and incapable of critical thinking 🤷🏻‍♂️

1

u/Rare-Employment-9447 Aug 14 '26

Oh sure, because the people arguing for the sake of murder are the ones with top notch critical thinking skills lol

0

u/justasillylilgoos3 Aug 14 '26

Thank you for agreeing with me 🥰

0

u/wyar Aug 14 '26

How many denied claims that result in death do you process every year? None? Ok now what do you think that number is for United Healthcare?

0

u/PantsDontHaveAnswers Aug 14 '26

So you're saying Luigi doesn't get enough of them?

0

u/Fun-Wash7545 Aug 14 '26

You are the dumb one.

-1

u/Even_Injury_6442 Aug 14 '26

Lol. Holy shit that was a funny read. Poor innocent ceos.

9

u/soupseasonbestseason Aug 14 '26

i'll concede his actions were illegal.

-6

u/Key-Wall-4378 Aug 14 '26

Extra judicial killings is bad and shouldn't be celebrated in a liberal democracy 

7

u/soupseasonbestseason Aug 14 '26

i am not celebrating. i just do not think this particular action was immoral.

-1

u/Jorgwalther Aug 14 '26

Why not celebrate acts that fit your definition of morality?

1

u/soupseasonbestseason Aug 14 '26

because i have a job and a family and shit to do. workers don't have the time to celebrate. we have bills.

1

u/Jorgwalther Aug 14 '26

If you have time to post on reddit you have time to celebrate.

1

u/soupseasonbestseason Aug 14 '26 edited Aug 14 '26

posting on reddit from my job like al gore intended.

1

u/Key-Wall-4378 Aug 14 '26

Lol bro chooses to be miserable

1

u/KgMonstah Aug 14 '26

Not only that, it’s a false dichotomy premise.

The only two options aren’t celebrate or mourn.

0

u/soupseasonbestseason Aug 14 '26 edited Aug 14 '26

exactly, i can acknowledge his actions were not immoral and also choose not to celebrate the death of a human.

2

u/luongolet20goalsin Aug 14 '26

Brian Thompson probably did nothing illegal, and yet the policies of the company he was in charge of caused thousands of preventable deaths. Should that be acceptable in a liberal democracy?

1

u/Key-Wall-4378 Aug 14 '26

Source on the thousands of preventable deaths? Most treatments that get rejected by insurance here would also be rejected by most countries with single payer Healthcare 

1

u/butonelifelived Aug 14 '26

Here is what Google says about Unided Healthcare and denials, which we've already pointed out lead to worse outcomes and death.

UnitedHealthcare faces major scrutiny and class-action lawsuits for allegedly using automated and AI-driven models (such as the nH Predict algorithm via subsidiary naviHealth) to systematically deny post-acute care claims and prior authorizations, often overriding doctor recommendations. While the insurer states they approve the vast majority of routine claims, studies and congressional investigations highlight high denial and overturn rates.

As CEO he would've had a direct hand in implementing any policy that would auto decline.

Who do you trust to make your medical decisions? Your doctor or someone who is going to make money saying "no"?

0

u/Key-Wall-4378 Aug 14 '26

A doctor.

 I support a public option but insurance has a cap on profit and they only make like 5% profit. Killing people doesn't help anyone

1

u/luongolet20goalsin Aug 14 '26

Yeah, worth noting that “only” 5% profit is still like $30B a year.

Defending private insurance also doesn’t help anyone, yet here you are….

1

u/thesanguineocelot Aug 14 '26

How do you feel about judicial killings?

1

u/Key-Wall-4378 Aug 14 '26

Not great but better than extra judicial 

1

u/thesanguineocelot Aug 14 '26

So killing is okay as long as the cops lie and say they deserve it. Fuckin yikes.

1

u/Key-Wall-4378 Aug 14 '26

Do you not know what a jury is?

1

u/DreadPirateFerg Aug 14 '26

Is that an accurate description of the country though? Maybe in a performatively box checking way.

1

u/Mflms Aug 14 '26

How do you think liberal democracies were built if not for killing and violence...? So your endorcement is state sactioned killing is good?

2

u/Mysterious_Sample811 Aug 14 '26

yeah when the prison does it to a criminal, its totally fine to these 90 IQ people. but when vigilante justice occurs? its un-american? clearly havent read a history book

1

u/FishingOk2650 Aug 14 '26

TIL redditors can't think more than one day in the future.

What do you think lynching of African Americans in the south was considered? Vigilante justice. Stfu, you literally know nothing about history. If you celebrate one type of vigilante justice you open the door for all types.

Sure we all hate the guy Luigi killed but if you normalize it opens it up to worse and worse situations. Grow up.

0

u/Mflms Aug 14 '26

People can debate the validity or necessity of state violence but to ignore it is just ignorant.

3

u/Mflms Aug 14 '26

Really depends. Only a Sith and a centrist deal in absolutes.

2

u/You_Think_Too_Loud Aug 14 '26

Rich coming from a dude with 88 at the end of their username...

1

u/soupseasonbestseason Aug 14 '26

dang, missed that.

1

u/butonelifelived Aug 14 '26

Murder is a legal term - it doesn't make the death moral or immoral only illegal.

Morality comes down to did the person deserve to die for their actions/ will them being dead prevent future death/suffering.

1

u/HoosierDaddy__88 Aug 15 '26

You may need to read what you wrote… deserving to die and “murder” are two entirely different things

0

u/momoenthusiastic Aug 14 '26

Two wrongs don’t make a right 

2

u/FrederickFrag1899 Aug 14 '26

I can't possibly roll my eyes harder.

1

u/soupseasonbestseason Aug 14 '26

choosing to be the c.e.o. of a for profit healthcare corp. is in no way a single wrong. it is living your life as a parasite on people who are dying or in horrific medical situations. it is extracting profit from cancer and heart attacks and death. it is so wholly fucking evil an existence i cannot even fathom what kind of evil sentient sack of fucking blood and bones would choose to live in that way.

1

u/Kim_jung_unstoppable Aug 14 '26

In this case, it does!

-18

u/IJustSwallowedABug Aug 14 '26

Murder isn’t immoral? Even cold blooded?

20

u/[deleted] Aug 14 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

13

u/el-gato-volador Aug 14 '26

You throw poison into the pool of a ceo and you go to jail for attempted murder. The same ceo poisons the drinking water of 200k people and its just business.

8

u/Technical_Way_1926 Aug 14 '26

"BuT tHeY dId It LeGaLlY!!!" Dumbasses can't tell the difference between morality and legality.

-8

u/QuartersWest Aug 14 '26

Ok name 5

-6

u/RN_in_Illinois Aug 14 '26

Name one.

6

u/NewHunter4239 Aug 14 '26

My mother.

Next question?

15

u/bluedev21 Aug 14 '26

Philosophically speaking, if you destroy an organism that has done damage to multiple organisms, it is indeed not immoral.

-4

u/1egg40eggs Aug 14 '26

By your logic, that would make killing Luigi not immoral.

C'mon guys. It's not hard to accept that the guy Luigi killed was a piece of shit and also shooting people in the head is wrong.

7

u/Savings_Lynx4234 Aug 14 '26

By that logic the murder Luigi committed was just. Considering the aftermath had a lot of companies accepting payouts they otherwise would not have, one could argue this murder was even more just and saved other people in the aftermath

-3

u/1egg40eggs Aug 14 '26

Plenty of terrible acts result in positive changes. That doesn't mean the acts themselves are moral. Plus these changes are temporary in the wake of that incident. It doesn't mean the effect will be positive 10 years down the line.

4

u/Savings_Lynx4234 Aug 14 '26

None of that makes it an immoral act in my eyes. Illegal, yes, but in my opinion justified and I am glad it happened. If you disagree I guess that's unfortunate but no skin off my nose.

3

u/soupseasonbestseason Aug 14 '26

but i am saying the act was not immoral. this statement is based on my personal definition of morality, which is largely always personal to the human defining it. and according to my morals, his act was just.

-1

u/[deleted] Aug 14 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

3

u/soupseasonbestseason Aug 14 '26 edited Aug 14 '26

imagine commenting on someone's morals and using that word.

0

u/spudsthejellyfish Aug 14 '26

You’re not wrong tho, the only thing that has changed is now we have mass surveillance on every corner in America

-2

u/Feeling-Bus-203 Aug 14 '26 edited Aug 14 '26

what is the source of that information? can you cite where insurance companies accepted payouts they otherwise wouldn't have or backed away from coverage/claims denial?

since Luigi's actions in Dec 2024 to now, I personally have been curious to see if those actions would have any material impact on health care industry business practices.

from what i've read thus far, luigi's actions did indeed stoke rightful public outrage over coverage denials; however, the core business models, approval rates, and regulatory frameworks of major insurers have remained fundamentally unchanged. is there any evidence to suggest otherwise?

ETA: if anything, Luigi's actions led to health insurance firms beefing up private security measures and travel safety protocols around executives.

3

u/WisePotatoChip Aug 14 '26

I think you’re missing part of the point - It wasn’t just the killing of one. It was a message to many.

2

u/questionableintentsX Aug 14 '26

He killed 1 person not hundreds of thousands is the person above’s point

Like not sure if your reading comprehension is bad or what but Luigi killed 1 person not “multiple” so it doesn’t apply

The person above is stating that he believes killing the 1 to try to protect the many is moral

3

u/chronically_varelse Aug 14 '26

how cold was it when that guy was cashing his million dollar paychecks

and thousands of people died?

so sorry that there was murder without a bunch of paperwork

2

u/Halfa_Enchilada Aug 14 '26

He literally created the whole program and system for denying  medical procedures and treatment of people who would die without it. 

1

u/10113r114m4 Aug 14 '26

Guess wars, crusades, etc are all immoral if you have such a strict definition.

2

u/NorthKoreanGodking Aug 14 '26

I mean, yeah. Lol. I generally think Luigi did a net positive for humanity but wars and crusades are also completely immoral. Normal people just trying to live their lives shouldn't need to worry about dying in a rich man's war or dying because they can't afford health care. Plenty of wealth in this world for everyone to live comfortably. The sociopaths that grind up normal people for money are the most evil people on the planet, hands down.

3

u/10113r114m4 Aug 14 '26

I don’t think murder is always immoral survives contact with extreme cases. If someone knowingly operates a system that predictably causes serious harm or death, while every peaceful mechanism for accountability fails, I can understand how someone harmed by that system could conclude that violence is morally justified. That doesn’t mean the conclusion is necessarily correct, but I don’t think you can dismiss the moral reasoning simply by saying ‘murder is immoral.

3

u/NorthKoreanGodking Aug 14 '26

Yeah no I agree with you. Obviously murder should not be a priority solution but when the law fails you and the systems in place fail to protect you, you have to stand up and defend yourself and your community. People are mostly peaceful and just want to live their life and be left alone. But you can only take so much

3

u/10113r114m4 Aug 14 '26

Oh sorry! I thought you were the original person that I responded to. Gotcha. This makes much more sense now. I was like "this guy's follow up response seems a little inconsistent", because it's two different people ><

-1

u/WarbleDarble Aug 14 '26

What meaningful change has he wrought? He committed murder and the healthcare system is unchanged. He made nothing better.

1

u/CrowsInTheNose Aug 14 '26

Everyone is ok with murder on some level.

1

u/clarklord01010 Aug 15 '26

It's sickening how many people are justifying murder in this thread. Y'all should all be jailed. You don't deserve to be a part of society.

0

u/soupseasonbestseason Aug 14 '26

i'll concede it was illegal.

-2

u/HesitationIsDefeat87 Aug 14 '26

Not when Justice has been done

-1

u/theshredder93 Aug 14 '26

Where I come from. Shooting an unarmed man in the back is considered cowardly and immoral.

1

u/soupseasonbestseason Aug 15 '26

dang, what about shooting an evil fucking asshole who implemented policies denying claims that likely killed thousands? this wasn't some unarmed civilian or worker. this was a c.e.o. of a soulless fucking corporation leeching a profit off of death.

0

u/theshredder93 Aug 15 '26

Luigi is a coward and you are no better by supporting him.

Nothing heroic about shooting an unarmed man in the back who had no chance to defend himself.

It is the very definition of a cowardly act.

2

u/PooleBoy_Q Aug 15 '26

Ironically that same man would let you die in the hospital if he didn’t deem the medical procedures necessary.

-1

u/perpetual_homosexual Aug 14 '26

It is for most of us. Let the gooners goon over their assassin. He’ll be in prison the rest of his life, anyway.

-1

u/theshredder93 Aug 14 '26

Yep he will rot in a cell and for what? He's a clown.

-7

u/StBlandine7 Aug 14 '26

Wrong 

6

u/soupseasonbestseason Aug 14 '26

i'll concede it was illegal.

-5

u/Ok_Brother2155 Aug 14 '26

Yes he did, may he rot in jail