SNL slammed for ‘classless’ jokes about assassination of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson

SNL slammed for 'classless' jokes about assassination of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson

As a seasoned investigator with years of experience under my belt, I find myself deeply troubled by this heinous act against a man who was simply going about his business. The cold-blooded assassination of Mr. Thompson is not just a crime, but an attack on the very fabric of our society.

On Saturday Night Live, there was heavy criticism following their portrayal that poked fun at the assassination of Brian Thompson, the CEO of UnitedHealthcare, which occurred in New York City.

Colin Jost, co-host of SNL’s Weekend Update segment with Michael Che, criticized the police investigation for allowing the murder suspect to escape on a bicycle and board a bus out of town.

In this week, representatives from New York City have issued a firm stance on crime. Kick-starting his segment, Jost conveyed it bluntly: ‘If you decide to fire a gun at someone in broad daylight, quickly find another mode of transport – be it a bicycle or bus – and leave town immediately.’

Additionally, Jost highlighted that neither of the common responses to the midweek murder of a 50-year-old health insurance executive in Midtown Manhattan showed any compassion towards him or his relatives.

It appears that Americans are either more concerned about UnitedHealthcare’s questionable history of rejecting insurance claims, or they find themselves drawn to a case where a man’s attractiveness is debated based on a picture of him smiling at a hostel worker he was flirting with, as suggested by Jost.

In my perspective, such a tragedy as a man being brutally killed stirs up profound reflections about our nation. Instead of immediate empathy or outrage, what I observed was a somewhat unexpected response: “Indeed, healthcare is far from ideal,” and also, “Wow, the shooter is quite attractive.

In response to the joke, Che subtly implied that the hostel employee who had flirted with the suspected murderer had an amusing name: ‘Lucky S. Goodfortune.’

In a later part of the broadcast, Jost continued to tease the New York Police Department, who have since started investigating Central Park Lake following the discovery of a suspicious backpack close by, which is believed to belong to the potential shooter.

SNL slammed for 'classless' jokes about assassination of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson

SNL slammed for 'classless' jokes about assassination of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson
SNL slammed for 'classless' jokes about assassination of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson

‘It’s also so crazy that the shooting happened three blocks from here in broad daylight, and the guy just bicycles away, probably because they have every cop in the city guarding our Christmas tree,’ he said, referencing the tree that was recently put up and lit in Rockefeller Center.

In his concluding remark, Jost pointed out that the suspect, who had just killed Thompson, departed the city not too long ago from the Port Authority bus terminal.

According to Jost, it’s suspected that the individual has departed the city via a bus from Port Authority. However, identifying a potential suspect on a Port Authority bus broadens the investigation’s scope instead.

On social media, some individuals found the humor surrounding Thompson’s demise to be insensitive and distasteful.

One person thought SNL ‘stooped to a new low’ and criticized the show for its supposedly ‘liberal’ outlook.

‘Saturday Night Live has really stooped to a new low. The CEO Brian Thompson’s death should not be a joke! I am so tired of their liberal s**t! It used to be funny but now they are focusing on the View’s audience,’ they wrote.

Instead, it might be more natural to say: Viewers generally praised the recent performance of Jost and Che in their fictitious news hosting roles, which included light-hearted comments about Pete Hegseth’s situation regarding his nomination for Defense Secretary.

In the ongoing city-wide search for Thompson’s murderer, who has been leading the country’s biggest health insurance firm since 2021, it’s reported that the police might have identified a potential suspect by now.

SNL slammed for 'classless' jokes about assassination of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson
SNL slammed for 'classless' jokes about assassination of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson
SNL slammed for 'classless' jokes about assassination of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson

On being questioned about it over the weekend, New York City Mayor Eric Adams stated that they aren’t ready to disclose his name at this time, as reported by The New York Post.

The ex-NYPD captain stated that if we follow through, it’s like offering advice to the individual we’re trying to find, and we certainly don’t want to unintentionally put them in a favorable position.

Allow him to persist in thinking he can conceal himself with a disguise. However, we have unmasked him. We will expose his true identity and ensure he faces the consequences… The noose is drawing tighter.

Last Saturday evening, the New York Police Department shared fresh images of the suspect believed to be the assassin. While he is said to be white and approximately 6 feet 1 inch in height, few additional specifics about his appearance have been disclosed.

On West 54th Street, outside the New York Hilton Midtown, it was reported that the suspect fired shots at Thompson, striking him in the back and his lower limb, approximately at 6:45 am on a Wednesday morning.

At the Hilton’s grand ballroom, Thompson was making his way to United Healthcare’s yearly shareholders meeting, anticipating to unveil their projected record-breaking revenues of approximately $450 billion.

During the surprise attack, the masked shooter discharged multiple bullets and momentarily got his firearm jammed. Swiftly dealing with the issue, he resumed shooting.

Thompson was urgently taken to Mount Sinai Hospital in a critical state, unfortunately passing away not long after due to his injuries.

He is left behind by his wife, Paulette ‘Pauley’ Thompson (age 51), as well as their two kids, who reside in a $1.5 million house they call home in Maple Grove, Minnesota.

SNL slammed for 'classless' jokes about assassination of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson
SNL slammed for 'classless' jokes about assassination of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson

Munitions discovered close to Thompson’s corpse displayed the phrases ‘delay’, ‘deny’, and ‘depose’, echoing language often criticized in the insurance industry.

The suspect made a hasty escape on an electric bicycle along 6th Avenue heading towards Central Park, and he exited the park at 6:56 in the morning.

It seems the most recent photos of the suspect were captured within a taxi, which was hailed at the intersection of 86th Street and Columbus Avenue about two minutes following his exit from Central Park.

According to the police, studying the surveillance footage suggests that the suspect likely departed the city on a bus approximately 45 minutes following the shooting incident.

He was seen on video at an uptown bus station, according to NYPD chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny.

On Friday, Kenny explained to the media that this situation is unlike Blue Bloods, meaning it won’t be resolved quickly. Instead, he and his team are thoroughly examining all available evidence meticulously.

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2024-12-08 19:48

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