FACT CHECK: Viral Video Of Sidewalk Celebration In New York Not Linked To CEO’s Recent Murder

A viral video shared on Instagram purports to show a crowd in New York celebrating the death of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.

Verdict: False

The video was originally shared on TikTok on Nov. 21 and shows a sidewalk party following a recent Natasha Bedingfield concert at Webster Hall in New York. The video is not linked to Thompson’s death.

Fact Check:

Luigi Mangione, 26, has been detained as a “strong person of interest” in Thompson’s death, according to CNBC. Mangione was reportedly carrying a gun matching the one used to fatally shoot Thompson when he was detained by police in Altoona, Pennsylvania, the outlet indicated. 

The video, which has garnered over 500,000 likes, purports to show a crowd in New York celebrating Thompson’s death.

“NYC coming together to dance in the streets over the universal American love of [dead] CEOS,” the text appearing on the video reads. In the video, a large crowd of people can be seen singing and dancing to Bedingfield’s song, “Unwritten.”

The claim is false. The video was originally shared on TikTok on Nov. 21 and is unrelated to Thompson’s death. According to @rachael__burke, the social media user who posted the video, the clip shows a sidewalk party in New York after a recent Bedingfield concert. The scene in the TikTok video matches that of the viral Instagram video.

@rachael__burke we’ve all got a pocketful of sunshine #natashabedingfield #nyclife #publicdance #popmusic ♬ original sound – Rachael Burke

Likewise, an event page available on Ticketmaster’s website indicates Bedingfield played a concert at Webster Hall in New York on Nov. 20, one day before the original clip was shared on TikTok. Bedingfield also mentioned the concert in a Nov. 18 post she shared via her verified Instagram account, saying she was preparing for the show.

In addition, the viral Instagram video does not appear to be referenced in any recent credible news reports about Thompson’s death. Actually, the opposite is true. On Dec. 9, Snopes debunked the claim, reporting the video showed a celebration following the Bedingfield concert and was not linked to Thompson’s death.

Thompson was shot and killed on Dec. 4 while on his way to UnitedHealth Group’s annual investor conference, according to The Associated Press.