No, this video doesn’t show New Yorkers dancing because UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson died


UnitedHealth CEO arrest press conference, 12-9-2024
Altoona, Pa., Deputy Police Chief Derek Swope speaks Dec. 9, 2024, in Hollidaysburg, Pa., about the suspect Luigi Mangione’s arrest in the fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. (AP)

As of Dec. 9, British singer-songwriter Natasha Bedingfield’s 2004 hit “Unwritten” debuted approximately 20 years ago, and a video of a crowd of people outside dancing and singing the song’s lyrics first appeared on social media more than two weeks ago. 

UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was shot and killed on the street in New York City less than a week ago.

Which means that video of a crowd of people singing Bedingfield’s song doesn’t show them celebrating Thompson’s death, as a recent Instagram post claimed.

“NYC coming together to dance in the streets over the universal American love of (dead) CEOS,” text over the video said, using a skull-and-crossbones emoji.

A Dec. 6 Instagram post sharing the video was flagged as part of Meta’s efforts to combat false news and misinformation on its News Feed. (Read more about our partnership with Meta, which owns Facebook, Instagram and Threads.)

But this video — minus the inaccurate description — predates Thompson’s death. An Instagram account posted it Nov. 21 with this description: “sidewalk party after the Natasha Bedingfield concert… nyc is unparalleled.” 

Bedingfield performed a 20th anniversary show of the “Unwritten” album Nov. 20 at Webster Hall in New York City. 

We rate claims this video shows people dancing over Thompson’s death False.

 

Truth-o-meter Ruling

False

IF YOUR TIME IS SHORT

  • This video predates the Dec. 4 fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. It shows people singing after a Nov. 20 Natasha Bedingfield concert in New York City.

Statement

Video shows “NYC coming together to dance in the streets over the universal American love” of dead CEOs.

Context

a video

Speaker/Target

Statement Date

December 6, 2024
Our Sources

Instagram post, Dec. 6, 2024

Instagram post, Nov. 21, 2024

Instagram post, Oct. 2, 2024

Instagram post, Nov. 21, 2024

Translations

Language: en

More by This Author

Latest Fact Checks