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Retail platforms like Amazon, Etsy, and eBay are slapping down merch listings that glorify Luigi Mangione — the suspect in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.
In the wake of Thompson's murder, some people on social media were unsympathetic, given their grievances with the American healthcare system. And after Mangione was arrested, he emerged as something of a folk hero — and heartthrob — in certain corners of the internet.
That sentiment soon made its way into the merch space. On Etsy, products were being offered with Mangione's likeness and the phrase "Deny, Defend, Depose," BI sister site Morning Brew reported.
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Those words were etched onto bullet shell casings found at the scene of the killing, police said — and are similar to a 2010 book scrutinizing the insurance industry titled "Delay Deny Defend."
Many of the Mangione-themed items offered for sale came from drop shippers, Morning Brew reported — or sellers who print products on-demand after they're ordered. Some of the items included cups, sweatshirts, and hats, The Washington Post said.
Morning Brew reported that similar items were for sale on sites like RedBubble and TikTok Shop, while Amazon and Etsy were taking down many listings that referenced Mangione or the shooting.
An Amazon spokesperson told Business Insider that the products in question were removed because they violated Amazon's rules against offensive and controversial items.
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An eBay spokesperson told BI that items that "glorify or incite violence" are prohibited from its marketplace. That includes items that celebrate the murder of the UnitedHealthcare CEO, the eBay spokesperson said. The company doesn't prohibit the sale of items with the phrase "Deny, Defend, Depose," the spokesperson said.
It appeared some of the platforms were playing a game of cat and mouse with sellers — with various listings still live as of Wednesday.
The eBay spokesperson said the company is "continuing to sweep the marketplace for other prohibited items," including one listing that was still live as of Wednesday — which the spokesperson said was being removed because it featured an image of a gun.
A Redbubble spokesperson told Business Insider in a statement that its "strict community guidelines prohibit, among other things, the glorification or promotion of violence, while still allowing legitimate discussion of current events."
Every design includes a reporting function so that potential violations can be flagged by the community, the spokesperson added.
Etsy and TikTok Shop didn't immediately respond to requests for comment from BI.
