Following the high-profile arrest of Luigi Mangione, the suspected killer of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, the McDonald’s restaurant in Altoona, Pennsylvania, has suddenly found itself in the center of a digital maelstrom. The restaurant and its employees have been the victim of a deluge of scathing reviews on the internet since the arrest, which put an end to a five-day manhunt.

The Arrest That Caused Anger

Rich Ivy League graduate Luigi Mangione was taken into custody at the East Plank Road McDonald’s after a patron recognized him from wanted posters and informed a staff member. The employee quickly dialed 911, which allowed the cops to safely capture Mangione.

Mangione, 26, is accused of possessing a silencer, a forged instrument, and second-degree murder. The accusations are related to the shooting death of Brian Thompson on December 4, which authorities said was a premeditated attack outside a hotel in Manhattan.

After Mangione’s arrest, social media users and online reviewers directed their frustration at the McDonald’s where he was apprehended. Both Yelp and Google reviews were bombarded with harsh remarks, labeling the employees as “snitches” and accusing the establishment of betrayal.

One reviewer expressed, “Fire all the rats working here!!!!!!” while another wrote, “This place is a fed hotspot—avoid at all costs.” Numerous reviews repeated the now-famous phrase, “Rats everywhere,” which alluded to the Mafia term for informants.

The surge of negative reviews led Yelp to temporarily suspend comments on the restaurant’s page, citing “unusual activity.” Google also took action, removing reviews that breached its policies on inauthentic or manipulative content.

Is it Betrayal or Heroism?

The McDonald’s worker who alerted authorities has been praised as a hero by local officials. Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro commended the employee’s bravery, saying, “This employee did the right thing by helping to ensure public safety.” However, some online communities have taken a different stance, calling for a boycott of the fast-food chain and referring to the staff as “McSnitches.”

Discussions on social media and forums have been filled with contrasting opinions. One Reddit user humorously remarked, “He should’ve gone to Waffle House. That staff wouldn’t have said a word.” Others voiced support for Mangione, with one post stating, “Out of loyalty, I’ll be avoiding McDonald’s for the foreseeable future.”