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Ethel Cain, a rising indie musician, has caused controversy with her recent social media posts related to the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.
On her Instagram, Cain shared a quote from former U.S. Secretary of Labor Robert Reich criticizing the influence of powerful groups like the NRA and big corporations on Congress. Cain accompanied the post with the hashtag “#KillMoreCEOs”, which has drawn widespread backlash.
In a follow-up message, the 26-year-old singer defended her stance, saying she was not trying to be “reactionary or edgy”, but expressing a sincere belief. “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?” Cain wrote.
This is not the first time Cain has commented on the Thompson case. After the arrest of suspected killer Luigi Mangione, who had a manifesto criticizing the healthcare system, Cain posted “Violence begets violence.”
Cain has long been outspoken about her political views. Following Trump’s 2024 victory, she condemned the “embarrassingly large chunk of white men” embracing Nazi ideology as a way to “dissociate from the carnage.”
