Social media posts appeared to praise alleged murderer and UPenn grad Luigi Mangione
An English professor at the University of Pennsylvania apologized this week for creating social media posts that appeared to celebrate the alleged murderer of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.
Professor Julia Alekseyeva (pictured), who recently received an award for teaching, issued the apology Tuesday on X.
“Late last night I posted a TikTok, as well as several stories on my Instagram. These were completely insensitive and inappropriate, and I retract them wholly. I do not condone violence and I am genuinely regretful of any harm the posts have caused,” the professor wrote.
The posts in question appeared to celebrate alleged murderer Luigi Mangione, 26, after reports identified him as a graduate of the Ivy League university. Mangione allegedly shot the UnitedHealthcare CEO last week outside of a New York City hotel.
In a series of now-deleted posts on Instagram and TikTok, Alekseyeva appeared to praise Mangione.
As USA Today reports:
In an Instagram story that went viral this week, [Alekseyeva] appears to refer to Luigi Mangione, a 26-year-old Penn grad, as the “icon we all need and deserve.” …
Alekseyeva also appears in a TikTok video next to the caption: “have never been prouder to be a professor at the University of P3nnsylvania.” On the video, she moves her finger to the beat of a song from “Les Miserables” about [“angry” revolutionaries] rising up in battle. Screenshots and recordings of the posts and videos were recirculated by a conservative account on X, formerly Twitter.
Professor Julia Alekseyeva, a professor at @PennEnglish @Penn appears to celebrate the alleged UHC CEO ass*ssin and the fact that he went to University of Pennsylvania and calls him an “icon” pic.twitter.com/1YYGam7h8D
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) December 10, 2024
Jeffrey Kallberg, deputy dean of the UPenn School of Arts and Sciences, also issued a statement Wednesday calling the professor’s viral posts “antithetical” to the university’s values.
“Upon reflection, Assistant Professor Alekseyeva has concurred that the comments were insensitive and inappropriate and has retracted them,” Kallberg stated. “We welcome this correction and regret any dismay or concern this may have caused.”
An English and media studies professor, Alekseyeva’s research includes “radical leftist politics.” In April, she won an award from the university for “distinguished teaching.”
“Julia is one of Penn’s most innovative, rigorous, and effective teachers. Her teaching combines academic rigor with the ability to inspire and motivate students,” the award announcement stated.
Other professors also have been accused of trivializing the health insurance company CEO’s murder, including a health care ethics scholar at Saint Louis University and a social work studies professor at Columbia University.
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IMAGE: University of Pennsylvania, LibsofTikTok/X
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