Comedian Plays ‘Ghost’ of UnitedHealthcare CEO on Netflix

Netflix dropped Torching 2024: A Roast of the Year on Friday morning. And it seems the streamer felt it had to top itself with even more outrageous jokes than the ones hurled at Tom Brady back in May.

The night’s host, Roastmaster General Jeff Ross, took the stage with an introduction from a Diddy lookalike, who was serving as the event’s bartender. “Maybe it’s time to change Diddy’s name to definitely,” Ross said before ordering a “baby oil on the rocks.”

Ross also had jokes about Donald Trump working the McDonald’s drive-thru (“Even Grimace was like, ‘That guy’s got a weird-shaped body’”) and how Elon Musk “bought” the United States.

“The Cybertruck doesn’t come with a spare tire, but apparently Elon does,” Ross said as the photo of Musk jumping in the air and baring his stomach appeared on screen behind him. “Forget Mars, maybe he should explore a Planet Fitness.”

But it was comedian and podcaster Tim Dillon who really stole the show when he came out about halfway through the 42-minute special dressed as the “ghost” of murdered UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, complete with rusty chains and business casual attire.

Tossing “free medicine” into the crowd, Dillon said, “Here you go, you socialist pigs, is this what you want?!”

As the live audience nervously tried to figure out how to react, he broke character for a moment to say, “I’m going to hell for this, you might as well laugh.”

“Your reaction to my murder makes me sick,” Dillon said. “And not the type of sick I would immediately deny for not having the proper paperwork.”

He continued in this vein for the next few minutes, explaining that he “loves” denying people healthcare. “Oh, your nana needs her insulin?” he asked, ghoulishly. “Maybe your nana needs to make better choices.”

Even when Dillon was roasting Luigi Mangione, the jokes were really still on the alleged killer’s side. “Look at yourselves dancing in the streets because that guy Tortellini Mozzarella took me by surprise like an unexpected medical bill and shot me in the back,” he said. “Apparently he had his own back problems. I’m sorry Luigi but nobody feels bad for a thin guy with back problems. Claim denied!”

It was easily the most audacious set in a year-end special aiming for shock above all else.