Comedian Sam Taunton left other The Project hosts speechless after making a joke about the death of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, who was shot and killed in the heart of New York.
The panel was discussing the strange details of the December 4 murder case, after US police located the unknown gunman’s backpack in Central Park and discovered a wad of Monopoly money inside.
“Well, let’s hope there isn’t a ‘get out of jail free’ card in that backpack, because I might walk out free,” Taunton joked.
The comment caused an awkward silence followed by scattered laughter among the audience.
His co-hosts remained impassive as Hamish Macdonald inhaled deeply.
“That’s good,” Steve Price finally responded.
“Thanks Pricey,” Taunton replied, before Sarah Harris appeared to change the subject.
“Thanks for bringing him home, Sammy,” he said diplomatically, as he quickly concluded the segment.
The Project presenters attempted to reproduce a joke made by comedian Sam Taunton about Brian Thompson’s killer.
Taunton said he hoped the killer didn’t have a “get out of jail free” card following the discovery of the Monopoly money in the gunman’s backpack.
The hosts had previously expressed disdain for the public’s reaction to the brazen shooting outside the Hilton Hotel in Midtown Manhattan.
A post on UnitedHealthcare’s Facebook page following Mr. Thompson’s death generated thousands of “laughing” reactions, which Harris described as “a touch macabre.”
‘Can there be anything stranger than this?’ Price commented.
‘People talk about how handsome the killer is. I guess it’s due to the fact that it’s hard to get health insurance in America.’
Police continue to scour New York for clues to the killer’s whereabouts.
Police found a backpack in Central Park containing a wad of Monopoly bills that some believe the killer intended to spread over Mr. Thompson’s body.
Bullet casings with the words “deny,” “defend,” and “depose” were also left behind, perhaps linked to common health practices.
Brian Thompson, CEO of UnitedHealthcare, was shot and killed in New York on December 4.
Many have theorized that the suspect harbored deep-seated animosity toward the organization.
One expert even suggested that the murder was not about “taking a life,” but rather “it was about sending a message, one that was deeply twisted and deeply calculated.”
Police believe the suspect spent about 10 days in New York in a shelter while planning the attack.
CCTV footage from near the scene appeared to capture the gunman fleeing towards Central Park after the shooting.
The mayor of New York City previously vowed to find the shooter.
“Let him continue to believe that he can hide behind a mask,” Adams said.
“We are going to reveal who he is and bring him to justice.”
The killer remains at large while US authorities intensify the search to locate him.
Thousands of people declared they were happy the chief executive had been killed and mocked America’s widely criticized private healthcare system.
Democratic Congressman Dean Phillips condemned the online comments.
“It appears that leftists who oppose killing terrorists in the Middle East support the assassination of CEOs in Midtown Manhattan,” he said.