The internet’s reaction to alleged CEO killer Luigi Mangione

LEXINGTON, Ky. (ABC 36 NEWS NOW) — UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was gunned down while walking the streets of New York. He leaves behind a wife and two kids. Now, his alleged killer is gaining positive attention online.

Dr. Dan Florell, a psychology professor at Eastern Kentucky University, says this type of reaction has been happening forever.

“Robin hood, what was he? He was a thief, but he took from the rich and gave to the poor,” Dr. Florell said.

He says it’s not surprising certain people are supporting Luigi Mangione, the alleged CEO assassin.

“[He] seems to have a cause that has truly resonated with people which is frustration regarding health insurance and the denial of coverage and the suffering that that has caused,” he said.

All over social media platform X, people have been posting about Mangione; a lot of the posts are showing affection for him.

“It can be very easy to romanticize that figure if I am just hearing the bare sketches of the detail with all these kinds of admirable things coming up,” he adds.

Dr. Florell says parasocial relationships can also have an impact on the way people react to those they see online.

“I think anyone who has been covered by the media extensively you begin to feel like you know them,” he said.

He says that could form a one-sided relationship.

“Beauty sells in our society,” Dr. Florell said. “So, somebody who is young and charismatic is always going to garner a bit more attention than people that are not that way.”

Whatever the reason, the internet has a way of creating closeness even when the subject is out of reach.

“There begins to be a confusion as we feel like we have a connection with somebody, and that other person may not even know we’re around,” he said.