Oscar-nominated director Lexi Alexander has drawn widespread criticism for her social media commentary following the murder of Bank of America executive Erin Piacenti. Alexander, 52, initially posted an image that appeared to mock Piacenti's death, a killing that occurred during a random stabbing spree in Times Square. Piacenti, 32, was a new mother who had recently returned from maternity leave.
Alexander initially faced backlash for her posts but refused to apologize, stating she did not realize Piacenti was a "low ranking branch manager" at the time of her death. The director further defended her actions, explaining that she did not want to delete the post because it presented an "opportunity" to highlight her calls for a boycott of Bank of America due to its ties to Israel. She claimed that the ensuing media attention led to renewed interest in her work, including script offers, meeting requests, and podcast invitations.
"All this press coverage caused tons of people to re-discover me," Alexander stated in posts on X. "Plus folks reached out with scripts, asked for meetings, multiple podcasts requests... It's really wild."
Alexander, known for films like "Green Street Hooligans," expressed frustration that her political messages about Palestine did not receive similar attention. "I can't get this kind of press when I promote a movie, but post a Luigi meme and they're all over you," she wrote, referring to a meme she shared that depicted Batman with a bat signal featuring the face of vigilante-style figure Luigi Mangione. She also alleged that the backlash was fueled by a "Hasbara bot farm," a reference to Israel's public diplomacy efforts, and reiterated her belief that the criticism stemmed from her boycott advocacy against the bank.
Online reactions to Alexander's comments ranged from condemnation to disbelief. Attorney Mark Yzaguirre called her a "monster" and "absolute human garbage," while others questioned her political stance. Alexander also engaged with critics, including one who commented on her estimated net worth and "eat the rich" stance, to which she responded, "Lol I so wish that was true."
Piacenti was killed on a Monday in Midtown Manhattan when she was approached and stabbed by Pamela Cisneros Lopez, 49. Lopez also fatally stabbed an elderly man before being shot and killed by responding police officers. Bank of America issued a statement expressing shock and sadness over the loss of their "valued teammate" and extended condolences to Piacenti's family.
An online fundraiser established for Piacenti's infant daughter, Madison, described her as "deeply devoted to her family and friends, exceptionally bright and accomplished, and was someone who brought warmth and energy to the people around her." The fundraiser aims to support Madison as she grows up.
