"Ethel Mangione?" — Internet reacts as Ethel Cain sparks debate with her take on killing CEOs in order to enact change

Singer Ethel Cain is going viral online after opining that the killing of CEOs is justified. This comes after the death of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, who was fatally shot by alleged suspect Luigi Mangione.

Ethel Cain shared a post by @rbreich on her Instagram stories on January 10 alongside the hashtag “Kill More CEOs.” The social media post read:

“Big Oil buys off Congress. No action on climate. The NRA buys off Congress. No action on guns. Insurance companies buy off Congress. No action on health care. The list goes on and on. Money in politics is the root of our dysfunction.”

In her follow-up Instagram story, Ethel Cain, whose real name is Hayden Silas Anhedönia, said that she was not trying to be “edgy.” She then said:

“Corporations giggle at protesting. Why would anyone ever willingly come down off their throne that they’ve spent years building off the suffering of their fellow man?... you make them fear for their lives and hit them in the only place they hurt or nothing will ever get done… it seems quite straightforward to me. “Violence is never the answer.” wrong. Sometimes it is.”

She then said:

“The world is burning and it’s very clear who’s holding the matches.”

Netizens have since taken to the internet to react to Ethel Cain's statement with one netizen saying:

"Ethel mangione?" wrote one.

Several others seemingly sided with Ethel Cain and agreed with her on social media. Comments online read:

“Shes so incredibly right but she gotta be careful,” an X user said.

“She speaks for all of us. Eat the rich,” another netizen said.

“I need to start listening to her now,” a platform user said.

Some other reactions read:

“Shes right no one should be upset at this lol,” an X user said.

“Girl woke up and really thought YES let’s be arrested today,” a platform user said.

“Shes so real,” another netizen said.

The BBC reported in December that law enforcement believed that Luigi Mangione was motivated to allegedly kill Thompson due to his resentment towards what he called the “parasitic” health insurance companies. Meanwhile, some netizens were not pleased with Cain's opinions and stated that her comments were "based." Comments read:

"Based based based," an X user said.

"I feel like she's doing this for promo for her album," another platform user said.

For those unversed, Ethel Cain was born in Tallahassee, Florida, and began creating music back in 2017. She initially released music on SoundCloud and Tumblr. She went on to be known for her Southern Gothic themes that included domestic abuse, poverty, death, substance abuse, and transgenerational trauma.

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More about the death of Brian Thompson as Ethel Cain’s comments about big corporations go viral online

The Economic Times reported in December that Luigi Mangione gained a cult-like following after he was recognized as a suspect. It was reported that he had received an astonishing 54 emails, 87 letters, and over 160 financial deposits into his commissary account after getting incarcerated in Pennsylvania.

Luigi Mangione gained public attention for his looks, the fascination surrounding his case, and sympathy for his hatred of the insurance industry, linked to his own struggles with severe back pain.

He was charged with murder as an act of terrorism, among other crimes, for allegedly shooting CEO Thompson on December 4, 2024, outside a Manhattan hotel. Mangione, a University of Pennsylvania graduate, was arrested on December 9 at a McDonald’s in Altoona, Pennsylvania.

Prior to his arrest, Mangione’s mother had reported him missing to the police in November after not hearing from her son since July.

Mangione hails from a prominent Baltimore family known for making a mark through their businesses that include country clubs, nursing homes, and a radio station.