In December 2024, the shooting of Brian Thompson, UnitedHealthcare’s chief executive officer, outside a Manhattan hotel sent shockwaves through the public, especially when days later the suspect, Luigi Mangione, was arrested in Pennsylvania. A cryptic message he left behind at the scene of the crime and a manifesto referencing Michael Moore sparked a flurry of reactions. Mangione’s writings targeted Moore, a celebrated documentary filmmaker whose sharp critiques of corporate America include the healthcare system. And as the news was breaking, Moore was quick with a response.
Moore, the maker of a string of politically charged films including *Fahrenheit 9/11* and *Bowling for Columbine*, is no stranger to controversy. This can be especially said about his 2007 documentary *Sicko*, which has been extremely critical of the American healthcare system, presenting systems in countries like Canada, France, and the UK in a very favorable light compared to that of America. The film supported universal healthcare, and its main message was one of great dissatisfaction with the American healthcare system regarding its greed and lack of compassion. However, while Moore had long been critical of the healthcare industry, his response to the tragic death of Thompson was unequivocal: he condemned the violence and the murder of an individual, regardless of the larger issues involved.
The Crime and Its Aftermath
On December 4, 2024, Thompson was fatally shot outside a Manhattan hotel.
He had just finished attending a business meeting when he was confronted by Mangione, who allegedly shot him at close range. Bullet casings left at the scene bore engravings that read “Deny,” “Depose,” and “Defend.” These words seemed to reference *Delay, Deny, Defend: Why Insurance Companies Don’t Pay Claims and What You Can Do About It*, a book that had recently gained attention, possibly due to the heightened public frustration with the healthcare industry. Mangione’s actions and the symbolism of the bullet casings seemed to denote a deep-seated anger at the systemic problems of the American healthcare system, an issue that had been a central theme in Moore’s own work.
Days after the murder, Mangione was caught in Pennsylvania. At the time of his arrest, police uncovered a 262-page manifesto detailing his intentions and beliefs. In it, Mangione invoked a number of high-profile critics of the healthcare system, including Michael Moore and Elisabeth Rosenthal, a former reporter for *The New York Times*. The manifesto painted a disturbing picture of a man consumed with rage over the failures of the healthcare system and its corporate leaders. He mentioned Moore’s *Sicko* as a major influence, labeling it one of the few works that really exposed the cruelty and injustice of the insurance industry. Other various radical ideas and references to infamous figures like Ted Kaczynski, also known as the Unabomber, were part of Mangione’s manifesto. This connection to violence and extremism made the case even more chilling.
Moore’s Response
In a Substack post published on December 6, 2024, Moore addressed the arrest and the revelations about Mangione’s manifesto. Anger and frustration from most Americans against the health system he acknowledged, Moore would have no truck with anything to justify violence. “All we know now is that the bullet casings used in the killing of the CEO included the inscriptions ‘Deny,’ ‘Defend,’ or ‘Depose’-which could mean everything, or nothing,” Moore wrote. He added his trademark wit to the post, remarking that such inscriptions could be as random as slogans like “From my cold dead hands” or “Half-Off Tuesdays at Applebee’s,” adding a touch of cynicism to the otherwise somber tone. Moore’s reaction epitomized the complexity of the situation: his deep understanding of the general dissatisfaction with the healthcare system was well in place, but the idea of violence being a justified response-an absolute no. Moore also clarified that while he shared the belief that the U.S. healthcare system needed radical reform, he was resolutely against the notion of taking matters into one’s hands through violence.
Murder is never the answer,” Moore said. What he meant was unequivocal-that no matter how nefarious, how unfair a system is, killing, certainly in the name of reform, can never be condoned. For Moore, this tragedy was not a rallying cry for revolution but a painful reminder of the human cost of inaction and systemic failure.
The Larger Debate: Healthcare Reform and Violence
The killing of Thompson by Mangione has reignited discussions of the healthcare system in the U.S. and the frustration many feel over its inaccessibility and unfairness. For years, critics like Moore have pointed out the systemic flaws in the healthcare industry: the astronomical costs of medical care, the profit-driven motives of insurance companies, and the often exploitative nature of pharmaceutical pricing. Sicko was a powerful denunciation of these issues, and it presented alternatives by showcasing the healthcare systems of other nations, where basic healthcare is treated as a human right rather than a commodity. While Moore’s films and statements have inspired many to call for reform, events surrounding Thompson’s death show how a deeply divided society can lead to dangerous outcomes.
The case of Luigi Mangione illustrates how frustrations, when left unaddressed, can manifest in destructive and extreme ways. It also underscores the urgent need for meaningful reforms to the healthcare system that address not just the financial and political issues, but also the emotional toll that these failures take on individuals and families across the nation. In the same post, Moore also reflected on the general cultural and political atmosphere that surrounded these events.
He argued that the climate of anger in the country-an economic inequality and a growing sense of powerlessness among fellow citizens-created an environment that made violence seem like perhaps an acceptable outlet. While he showed sympathy for those suffering at the hands of the current healthcare system, he warned that any solutions must be found through peaceful, democratic means, not through individual acts of violence.
Conclusion
Michael Moore’s reaction to the tragic death of Brian Thompson and the arrest of Luigi Mangione was measured, compassionate, and firm. He had to say that he abhorred the murder, but at the same time, he also could understand the anger that would make a person like Mangione do such a heinous act. Moore’s message was one of reform—urgent, necessary reform—but change had to come through non-violent means. As the investigation unfolds and the public discusses the causes and consequences of the murder, Moore’s voice remains a critical one in the ongoing conversation about America’s healthcare system and the quest for a more equitable society. His condemnation of the act serves as a reminder that while the fight for justice and reform is necessary, it must always be conducted within the bounds of morality and law.
