A professor at the University of Pennsylvania has apologized amid accusations that she praised the suspect in the killing of the CEO of UnitedHealthcare on the streets of New York.
In an Instagram story that went viral this week, Julia Alekseyeva, an assistant professor of English and media studies, appears to refer to Luigi Mangione, a 26-year-old Penn grad, as the “icon we all need and deserve.” Mangione was arrested Monday in connection with the shooting of Brian Thompson, a health insurance executive. Mangione’s fingerprints matched those found at the crime scene, according to law enforcement officials.
Read more:Fingerprints, gun link accused shooter Luigi Mangione with CEO killing, police say
Alekseyeva also appears in a TikTok video next to the caption: “have never been prouder to be a professor at the University of P3nnsylvania.” On the video, she moves her finger to the beat of a song from “Les Miserables” about downtrodden soldiers rising up in battle. Screenshots and recordings of the posts and videos were recirculated by a conservative account on X, formerly Twitter.
In a Tuesday post on X, the professor acknowledged she published a video on TikTok late Monday night, as well as several Instagram stories.
“These were completely insensitive and inappropriate,” Alekseyeva said, “and I retract them wholly. I do not condone violence and I am genuinely regretful of any harm the posts have caused.”
Alekseyeva did not respond to USA TODAY’s request for comment on Wednesday.
In a statement Wednesday, Jeffrey Kallberg, the deputy dean of Penn’s School of Arts and Sciences, called the professor’s remarks “antithetical to the values” of the university.
“Upon reflection, Assistant Professor Alekseyeva has concurred that the comments were insensitive and inappropriate and has retracted them,” Kallberg said. “We welcome this correction and regret any dismay or concern this may have caused.”
Read more:CEO shooting suspect Luigi Mangione may have suffered from spondylolisthesis. What is it?
The university would not comment about whether Alekseyeva could face disciplinary actions, or if she already has.
Accuracy in Media, an outside group that became known for doxxing pro-Palestinian students and faculty during campus protests over the past year, started an email-writing campaign this week to the school’s board of trustees over Alekseyeva’s remarks. The message calls for donors to halt funding to the school.
Zachary Schermele is an education reporter for USA TODAY. You can reach him by email at zschermele@usatoday.com. Follow him on X at @ZachSchermele.