Piers Morgan Clashes with Taylor Lorenz Over CEO’s Killing Remarks

A heated exchange unfolded on Piers Morgan Uncensored after former Washington Post tech columnist Taylor Lorenz said she felt “joy” following the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in Manhattan. Lorenz’s remarks sparked intense backlash from host Piers Morgan, who challenged her on the ethics of celebrating a violent death.

“I do believe in the sanctity of life,” Lorenz said during the discussion Monday. “I think that’s why I felt along with so many other Americans joy unfortunately because it feels like—” Stunned, Morgan interrupted sharply: “Joy? Seriously? Joy in the man’s execution?” Lorenz backtracked slightly, clarifying, “I guess I would say, maybe not joy but certainly not empathy.”

Visibly frustrated, Morgan played footage of the fatal shooting and demanded, “How can this make you joyful?” He reminded viewers that Thompson was a husband and father, emphasizing the tragedy of the event.

Lorenz countered by highlighting what she sees as a broader crisis caused by the health insurance industry. “So are tens of thousands of Americans who died because greedy health insurance executives like this one push policies of denying care to the most vulnerable people. And I [inaudible] the many millions of Americans that have watched the people that I care about suffer and in some cases die because of lack of health care.”

Morgan pressed further, asking whether she believed all healthcare executives should face a similar fate. “Would that make you even more joyful?” he retorted. Lorenz, chuckling nervously, replied, “Uh, no that would not,” only to be interrupted again. Morgan criticized her demeanor, saying, “You seem to find the whole thing hilarious.”

“I find your question funny,” Lorenz replied, prompting Morgan’s stern response: “A bloke’s been murdered in the street. I don’t find it funny at all.” Lorenz reiterated that while violence is not the solution, the killing has brought renewed attention to America’s healthcare issues. “You’re right, we shouldn’t be going around shooting each other with vigilante justice. No.

I think that it is a good thing that this murder has led to America, er, the media elites and politicians in this country paying attention to this issue for the first time.” Morgan dismissed her stance, saying, “The idea that I would view it as something ‘joyful’ that a man who’s just a health care executive has just been executed in the street I find completely bizarre.”

The debate underscored deep frustrations over the American healthcare system. A recent Commonwealth Fund report found that 17% of insured adults had care denied by insurers despite a doctor’s recommendation, with over half experiencing delays as a result. Lorenz argued that such systemic failures fuel public anger but stopped short of endorsing violence as a solution.

The tense exchange highlighted the stark divide over the ethical implications of celebrating a death tied to broader societal grievances.