McDonald’s ‘review bombed’ after UnitedHealth CEO Brian Thompson murder suspect Luigi Mangione’s arrest, Google steps in

Google removed negative reviews about McDonald’s on Monday following the arrest of a primary suspect in the murder of UnitedHealth CEO Brian Thompson. The suspect, 26-year-old Luigi Mangione, was arrested at a McDonald’s restaurant in Altoona, Pennsylvania, after a customer recognised him and informed a staff member, according to state police, news agency Reuters reported.

The derogatory reviews, which appeared after Mangione’s capture, are part of a trend known as “review bombing,” where businesses receive negative feedback not related to their services.

The reviews included accusations about the restaurant’s cleanliness and health standards, with one comment claiming, “This location has rats in the kitchen that will make you sick, and your insurance isn’t going to cover it.”

A Google spokesperson said in a statement, “These reviews violate our policies and have been removed.” The policy mandates that reviews reflect genuine experiences and prohibits “content that has been posted from multiple accounts to manipulate a place’s rating.”

The killing of Thompson, 50, sparked public frustration, especially among Americans dealing with increasing insurance costs and denied claims. Thompson was shot outside a Manhattan hotel early on Wednesday by a masked man who waited for his arrival before shooting him from behind.

The suspect fled the scene on a bike, and surveillance footage showed him later taking a taxi to a bus station in northern Manhattan. Police believe he left the city by bus.

Mangione was arrested after a five-day manhunt.

Luigi Mangione, an Ivy League graduate from a wealthy Maryland family, has been vocal against the medical insurance firms in his manifesto.

He allegedly liked a manifesto online targeting “parasites” and criticising the healthcare system.

His anger towards medical insurance firms reportedly stemmed from his experience following “life-changing back surgery,” which he had undergone, according to authorities.