Google removed a series of derogatory reviews about McDonald’s on Monday, following the arrest of Luigi Mangione, 26, the suspect in the killing of UnitedHealth executive Brian Thompson. The negative reviews surfaced after Mangione was apprehended at a McDonald’s in Altoona, Pennsylvania, where police say a customer alerted a local employee to his presence.
The reviews, which were largely unrelated to the restaurant’s actual service or food quality, were part of a phenomenon known as “review bombing.” This occurs when a business is hit with an influx of negative reviews driven by external events or political views, often as a form of retaliation.
In this case, the reviews ranged from disparaging comments about McDonald’s to outlandish claims, including one that falsely accused the restaurant of having rats in the kitchen. A Google spokesperson confirmed that these reviews violated the platform’s policies and were removed, stating that “review contributions should reflect a genuine experience at a place or business” and that “content posted from multiple accounts to manipulate a place’s rating” would be taken down.
The incident began when Thompson, 50, was shot and killed outside a Manhattan hotel early on Wednesday. The masked assailant, believed to have waited for Thompson’s arrival, shot him from behind before fleeing on foot, riding a bike into Central Park, and later taking a taxi to a northern Manhattan bus station. Police believe Thompson was deliberately targeted, and the suspect managed to evade capture until a five-day manhunt led to his arrest.
The review bombing came amid rising frustration in the U.S. over health insurance issues, with many Americans struggling with denied claims, unexpected costs, and soaring premiums. Thompson’s murder, coupled with the arrest of Mangione at a McDonald’s, triggered a wave of emotions, particularly among those who have experienced difficulties with the healthcare system.