Bill Burr Goes There With Jokes About ‘Gangster’ Healthcare CEOs

Comedian Bill Burr had some choice words to say on the assassination of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.

In the latest episode of his joint podcast with comedian Paul Virzi, Anything Better?, Burr weighed in on the reaction to Thompson’s killing, noting his confusion over people questioning the suspect’s motive.

“I was sitting there reading an article, and a guy was like, ‘Oh my god, he’s such a great guy, He had a wife and kids, and he’s such a great guy,’” Burr began. “And then you find out, he and the other guys he’s working for are getting sued for $121 million for dumping a stock and not letting the other people know,” referring to a Department of Justice investigation into Thompson for alleged insider trading. “It’s like, there’s your motive,” Burr continued.

While the comedian noted that he was not advocating for violence by any means, Burr said the tragedy doesn’t detract from the American healthcare system remaining a “dirty game”—and the double-standards in coverage of Thompson’s killing.

“They’re gangsters dude, f---ing gangsters, and then when one of them gets whacked or something they’re like, ‘Oh my god he was such a good guy.” It’s a dirty game,” he said. “Healthcare, dirty game.”

“Why is there this level of coverage?,” Burr added. “Somebody gets gunned down in New York every f---ing day, now all of a sudden these experts have to weigh in? That’s because of the status, we can’t have white guys in suits getting whacked.”

Thompson was shot outside the Hilton Hotel in midtown Manhattan on Dec. 4 at around 6:40 a.m., just before he was scheduled to attend an investor meeting. The investigation surrounding his murder is still active and ongoing, and the suspect remains at large.

For more, listen to comedian Bill Burr on The Last Laugh podcast.