Taylor Lorenz is back in the spotlight, and once again, it’s for all the wrong reasons. The former Washington Post reporter has managed to wade into one of the most controversial and unhinged moments in recent memory: the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.
Instead of treating the tragedy with the seriousness it deserves, Lorenz has leaned into the online circus surrounding it, sharing satirical TikToks and writing sympathetic posts about the suspect, Luigi Mangione. If this is her idea of journalistic integrity, it’s no wonder she’s an ex-reporter.
Let’s start with Lorenz’s Instagram post featuring a TikTok that romanticized the murder as an “assassination tour.” The video, dripping with irony, included a walkthrough of the crime scene with captions like “Where the magic happened.” It’s the kind of content that might get a chuckle on dark corners of the internet but has no business being promoted by someone who once held a platform at a major newspaper. But Lorenz didn’t stop there—she added fuel to the fire with a slew of social media posts about Mangione’s newfound “influencer appeal,” complete with references to fans creating memes, tattoos, and even fancams of the accused killer.
The cherry on top? Lorenz penned a Substack article praising Mangione as a “national hero” and highlighting his manifesto, which blamed health insurance companies for systemic failings in American healthcare. While no one denies that the healthcare system has issues, Lorenz’s apparent glorification of violence as a form of protest is as irresponsible as it is abhorrent. Her article even quotes supporters who claim Mangione is the only person “willing to do something about it.” You know, because murder is a reasonable policy proposal these days.
“Many have illuminated the corruption and greed… decades ago and the problems simply remain. It is not an issue of awareness at this point, but clearly power games at play. Evidently I am the first to face it with such brutal honesty.”
— Taylor Lorenz (@taylorlorenz.bsky.social) December 10, 2024 at 4:13 PM
It’s not just Lorenz’s social media antics that are raising eyebrows. During an appearance on Piers Morgan Uncensored, she admitted to feeling “joy” over Thompson’s death—though she later walked back the comment, saying it was the “wrong word.” Nice try, but the damage was already done. When confronted by Morgan about Thompson being a husband and father, Lorenz doubled down, claiming the late CEO was responsible for “tens of thousands” of deaths due to corporate greed. Whether or not one agrees with her critique of the healthcare industry, celebrating someone’s murder is a line most people with basic decency wouldn’t cross.
Ken Klippenstein has published Luigi’s full manifesto.
“Many have illuminated the corruption and greed… decades ago and the problems simply remain. It is not an issue of awareness at this point, but clearly power games at play. Evidently I am the first to face it with such brutal honesty.”
— Taylor Lorenz (@taylorlorenz.bsky.social) December 10, 2024 at 4:12 PM
Meanwhile, Mangione’s defense attorney is busy spinning tales of plausible deniability, arguing that “a lot of guns look the same” and cautioning against taking evidence “out of context.” Never mind that Mangione was found with a gun, silencer, and manifesto in tow—all of which seem pretty damning. But hey, when your client is the internet’s newest anti-hero, I guess you have to try something.
Mangione’s manifesto is as predictable as it is chilling, railing against the U.S. healthcare system and labeling industry executives as “parasites” who “had it coming.” While the frustrations he describes may resonate with some, his methods—if proven—are indefensible. The idea that violence is the answer to systemic problems is not just dangerous but also fundamentally un-American.
Lorenz’s behavior in all this is emblematic of a larger issue within certain corners of media and social media: a refusal to draw clear moral lines. By amplifying and even romanticizing this horrific act, she’s giving oxygen to the idea that violence is an acceptable form of protest. Worse, she’s normalizing it for the next Luigi Mangione, who might be lurking in the wings, waiting for their moment to “make a statement.”
The left is treating murder suspect Luigi Mangione like a healthcare robin hood. While they think they’re sticking up for the little guy, they’re really sticking up for an ivy leaguer with a social justice fetish. This murder is making everyone talk about how America’s healthcare… pic.twitter.com/oR5vjn19zm
— Jesse Watters (@JesseBWatters) December 11, 2024
It’s one thing to critique a broken system. It’s another thing entirely to glorify murder as a means to an end. Taylor Lorenz seems to have forgotten—or chosen to ignore—that distinction. And in doing so, she’s crossed a line that no responsible journalist or public figure should ever approach.
