Etsy, TikTok Shop, eBay, and Redbubble are just a few of the e-commerce sites where vendors are selling goods with designs influenced by the shooting death of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.
Following the discovery of bullet shell casings bearing the words “Deny,” “Defend,” and “Depose” at the crime scene, NBC News examined more than 100 item listings for T-shirts, hoodies, stickers, mugs, and even fake bullets and Christmas ornaments bearing those words (the police later clarified that the word “Defend” actually meant “Delay”).
Drawings or photos of the shooter from the original footage of the incident are featured on some of the items. Luigi Mangione, a suspect, was accused of murder.Monday. The incident has generated a lot of internet hype, with many individuals mocking or even cheering the murder. Many people have shared stories of being denied coverage, being mistreated, and experiencing financial hardship inside the health insurance system, which has led many to interpret Thompson’s targeting and the shooter’s message as a reflection on the status of the industry.
Two sons were born to Thompson. His family said in a statement that he will be sorely missed and described him as a very talented, caring, and giving man who lived life to the fullest and touched many people.
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The products, including T-shirts, adds to the wave of emotion surrounding the shooting. Many of the designs seem to be sold using print on demand, a business strategy that eliminates the need for sellers to maintain inventory by producing goods only in response to requests. Notwithstanding problems like widespread copyright infringement, the unrestrained print-on-demand sector has kept growing.
Some designs more overtly glorify or promote violence, while many products simply display the inscriptions left on the bullet shell casings. Target symbols, firearms, and guillotines are included in several of the designs.
Selling things that celebrate violence is prohibited on Redbubble, eBay, TikTok Shop, and Etsy. Requests for comment were not immediately answered by the companies.
One seller told NBC News that he intends to contribute any profits he makes to a charity that helps victims pay their medical expenses, despite the fact that the growing market for shooting-related products seems to be primarily for-profit, with prices ranging from $2.99 to over $70 for a blanket.
Michael, the graphic designer for one of the merchandise versions, spoke under the proviso that his last name not be used because he was afraid of the consequences for his career. Michael mentioned a moniker that some people online have begun using to refer to the shooter, The Adjuster, in a TikTok video that has received nearly two million views.
Michael stated in the video, “I think he needs a badass superhero logo to go with it if we’re going to give him a badass superhero name.” He reversed and redesigned the UnitedHealthcare logo to include the phrases “Depose,” “Defend,” and “Deny” along with an A. The design, which Michael is selling on two different T-shirts and two hoodies on Etsy, is his best-selling design, according to him, since he had over two dozen orders in less than a day.
Regarding the health insurance sector and his motivations for creating the design, Michael stated, “I don’t personally believe in violence, but I have a problem with their entire business making money off people suffering and dying.” I believe that many individuals share my belief that health care should be provided without charge. We’re tired of nothing getting done, even though this isn’t how we would approach it.
Although he didn’t find it surprising that the print-on-demand sector was making money off of what he views as an anti-capitalist movement, Michael stated that he didn’t want to benefit off someone’s passing. He claimed that the abundance of content on TikTok over the weekend that portrayed the shooter as a hero and an outlaw, including original folk songs about the massacre, served as the inspiration for the design. Over the weekend, images of stickers and other artwork with the words “Deny, Defend, and Depose” at craft fairs also went viral online.
When you see how crooked banks are, you’re like, ‘I kind of see it.'” Michael remarked, “I always questioned why people support individuals hijacking trains.” The fact that we identify more with the murderer than the billionaire and his family speaks to something about society.
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