This is how journalist Miles Klee starts his news article titled Social Media Has Little Sympathy For Murdered Health Insurance Exec:

“The fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson outside a midtown Manhattan hotel on Wednesday morning was a shock to the city and the nation. But as police hunted for the missing gunman in what they called a ‘premeditated, preplanned, targeted attack,’ social media erupted with contempt for the health insurance industry he represented — and his company in particular.”

Here are a few responses to the murder that were posted on Bluesky.

@gretchenart.bsky.social : “Sympathy not covered by insurance”

@cantankerous1.bsky.social : “I condemn the assassination of the CEO. Nobody should take a life in such a manner, regardless of the circumstances. That said, I will not be attending the funeral, any services, nor will I send an arrangement. I’ll be sweeping the dog hair from under the refrigerator – a much more important event.”

@cheryl606.bsky.social : “Heartless for the heartless”

@oldjoestalin.bsky.social : “I reckon the reward is being offered by United Healthcare itself, since it’s only $10,000. The CEO makes $10M, but all they can offer as a reward is $10K. They’re concerned about how it will affect shareholder value. Late stage capitalism, comrades.”

@peterthebaffled.bsky.social : “That may have been a hit engineered by his own colleagues or someone who lost a friend or relative due to the callous actions of a profit driven industry that thrives on human misery. I’m sure it’s worrying the bloodsucking execs of the rest of the industry.”

Here are some responses that were posted on X.com.

@LeoChuFanclub : “Can everyone please stop making jokes about the United Healthcare CEO’s assassination, I’m having trouble liking all of them.”

@NotADebacle : “Everyone who has ever been f*cked over by their insurance company needs to remember they are run by flesh and blood monsters with addresses and bodies that bleed. If you’ve got a fatal diagnosis you can be a hero.”

@Dylan811077382 : “When I told my aunt this morning abt the United healthcare ceo assassination this kind sweet old lady had the most beautiful smile on her face.”

@dilemmairv : “guys stop tweeting memes about the united healthcare assassination. it’s a tragedy. my fingers hurt from liking them all”

@RoyJrthe2nd : “I think my favorite part about the United Healthcare assassin is that everybody is on this dude’s side. Like f*ck anyone who will execute a corrupt CEO in the street for f*cking over millions of people is cool in my book.”

There hasn’t been this much disdain for an insurance executive since Bob Parr put his boss at Insuricare in a hospital.