UPenn Prof Apologizes For Post About Healthcare CEO's Killing

PHILADELPHIA — An assistant professor at the University of Pennsylvania has issued an apology for social media posts that celebrated the killing of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson.

Assistant professor of English and Cinema & Media Studies at the University of Pennsylvania Julia Alekseyeva weighed in on last week's New York City killing on TikTok and Instagram, NBC10 reports.

According to Action News, one of her posts read "I have never been prouder to be a professor at the University of P3nnsylvania," seemingly referring to Luigi Mangione, 26, who is charged with Thompson's murder.

Mangione attended the University of Pennsylvania, earning a Bachelor of Science in Engineering with a computer science major and mathematics minor, as well as a Master of Science in Engineering with a major in computer and information science, on May 18, 2020.

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On Wednesday, Alekseyeva apologized for her post.

"Late last night I posted a TikTok, as well as several stories on my Instagram," she said on social media. "These were completely insensitive and inappropriate, and I retract them wholly. I do not condone violence and I am genuinely regretful of any harm the posts have caused."

The university in a statement said her apology was welcome.

"Much concern was raised by recent social media posts attributed to Assistant Professor Julia Alekseyeva," the statement read. "Her comments regarding the shooting of Brian Thompson in New York City were antithetical to the values of both the School of Arts and Sciences and the University of Pennsylvania, and they were not condoned by the School or the University. Upon reflection, Assistant Professor Alekseyeva has concurred that the comments were insensitive and inappropriate and has retracted them. We welcome this correction and regret any dismay or concern this may have caused."

While Alekseyeva apologized for her posts, her words echoed sentiments shared by frustrated Americans who have dealt with increasingly labyrinthine and stingy health insurance providers.

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According to a U.S. Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations report, UnitedHealthcare’s prior authorization denial rate for post-acute care increased from 10.9 percent in 2020 to 22.7 percent in 2022. Forbes reports UnitedHealthcare denies more claims than any other health insurer.

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The company is also accused of using artificial intelligence to process claims, leading to erroneously denied claims.

Bullet casings at the shooting scene were engraved with the words "deny," "defend," and "depose," which may be a reference to the 2010 book "Delay Deny Defend: Why Insurance Companies Don't Pay Claims and What You Can Do About It," by Jay M. Feinman.

While being escorted into a Pennsylvania court Tuesday, Mangione shouted "It’s completely out of touch and is an insult to the intelligence of the American people and their lived experience!”

Mangione was charged with five crimes in Blair County: firearms not to be carried without a license, forgery, tampering with records, false identification to law enforcement, and possessing an instrument of a crime. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Dec. 23, court records show.

Hours later, police in New York City charged him with second-degree murder, criminal possession of a weapon, possession of a forged document and criminal possession of a firearm.