The Murder of a U.S. health insurance executive has sparked mixed reactions and negative restaurant reviews.
Google removed derogatory, negative and one-star reviews that showed up after Luigi Mangione, the suspect in the killing of UnitedHealth executive Brian Thompson, was captured at a McDonald’s in Altoona on Monday.
The negative comments aimed at McDonald's were the latest in what is known as "review bombing," where an establishment is hit with a litany of bad reviews based on a political view or an occurrence unrelated to its actual business.
According to Reuters, a Google spokesperson said in an emailed statement:
“The review contributions should reflect a genuine experience at a place or business and content that has been posted from multiple accounts to manipulate a place's rating will be removed.”
WTAJ News Director Melinda Roeder tells KDKA Radio’s Marty Griffin that threats have also been made against Altoona Police, specifically the officers involved in the apprehension of Mangione.
“Those affiliated with the McDonald’s” where Mangione was arrested have also been targeted.
Some of his social media profiles saw a large jump in followers after he was named the suspect and before companies could take his pages down.
Some online have expressed they see Mangione of a sympathetic figure, with many angry at the current state of health care in the United States.
But, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro said, “In some dark corners, this killer is being hailed as a hero. Here me on this, he is no hero.”