Thursday, December 19, 2024

Luigi Mangione support fundraisers, merchandise yanked by GoFundme, Etsy

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Major fundraising site GoFundMe and ecommerce retailer Etsy are cracking down on support of Luigi Mangione, the suspect arrested in the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. 

But tens of thousands have been raised in the alleged killer’s defense, elsewhere.

Suspected shooter Luigi Mangione is led into the Blair County Courthouse for an extradition hearing on Dec. 10, 2024, in Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania. (Jeff Swensen/Getty Images / Getty Images)

Following Mangione’s high-profile arrest earlier this week and being charged with the health insurance executive’s slaying, fundraising campaigns and merchandise celebrating the accused killer as a hero began cropping up online.

GoFundMe says it has removed all fundraisers dedicated to Mangione on its site, telling FOX Business in a statement, “GoFundMe’s Terms of Service prohibit fundraisers for the legal defense of violent crimes. The fundraisers have been removed from our platform and all donors have been refunded.”

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TMZ reported Tuesday that within hours of Mangione being identified, merchandise celebrating the suspect flooded Etsy, including shirts, cups and even Christmas ornaments.

Luigi Mangione

Ivy League grad Luigi Mangione is accused of gunning down UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in cold blood on a NYC sidewalk. (Luigi Mangione Facebook/NYPD CrimeStoppers)

But Etsy appears to have removed all Luigi Mangione-themed offerings as of Wednesday morning. The company did not immediately respond to FOX Business’ request for comment.

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Meanwhile, GiveSendGo appears to be allowing fundraisers for Mangione’s defense. One fundraiser on the site, which was launched Dec. 4 – the day of Thompson’s murder – is still going strong and has raised nearly $30,000 of its $200,000 goal.

unitedhealth ceo seen in inset image, with aerial image of NYC crime scene

UnitedHealth CEO Brian Thompson was shot and killed Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024, in New York City. (FOX 5 New York/ WNYW | UnitedHealth / Fox News)

“Luigi Mangione is a hero for shedding light on this aggregious [sic] ability of insurance companies to deny claims for people that need help – just for the wealth of the companies,” one donor, who contributed $25, wrote in a post on Wednesday morning. “I pay thousands a year for BAD HEALTH CARE that I still have to pay out of pocket for what is NOT COVERED! Luigi, THANK YOU! I will try to donate MORE SOON!!!”

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GiveSendGo did not immediately respond to FOX Business’ request for comment.

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