Comedian Bill Burr recently shared his thoughts on the Luigi Mangione murder case involving the killing of healthcare CEO Brian Thompson. In an interview with Rolling Stone on Tuesday, Burr suggested the incident should prompt healthcare companies to reassess their policies.
Burr stated, “I mean, if you look at all of this stuff, like the response to the Luigi [Mangione] thing, it wasn’t, ‘Maybe we need to look at what we’re doing if it makes some crazy person do this.’ [Healthcare executives’] response was to take their faces off the internet and get security.” He questioned the necessity of such security measures, given their role as business leaders rather than heads of state.
The case involves UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, who was murdered in December 2024. Luigi Mangione admitted guilt in federal court on August 14 for the killing.
“The only way to understand the comedian’s comments is as an endorsement of brutal and extrajudicial violence as a legitimate means of expressing one’s frustrations with corporate behavior,” commented Attorney Rafael Mangual, the Nick Ohnell Fellow at the Manhattan Institute, speaking with Fox News Digital. “The fact of the matter is that Brian Thompson was a victim of a cold-blooded murder. Full stop.”
According to Mangual, Mangione is neither a hero nor a martyr, highlighting the violent actions taken unjustly against Thompson. He criticized Burr’s remarks as not having fully considered the implications of endorsing violence.
UnitedHealthcare CEO Thompson was fatally shot on December 4, 2024, outside a Manhattan hotel. The suspect, Mangione, admitted his guilt in this act.
Burr, known for his politically incorrect humor, acknowledged a shift in his personal views, including his approach to comedy regarding women. He recounted his journey of self-reflection, acknowledging past ignorance and evolving perspectives.
Burr mentioned, “This whole journey of being a comedian is when I stopped doing this and started doing a little more of that. Like, ‘Hey, Bill, maybe chicks aren’t psychos. Maybe you’re bringing something to the party, you know?’”
He elaborated on how his quest for personal fulfillment affected his outlook, admitting to misplacing blame for his own unmet desires.