Filmmaker Lexi Alexander, known for directing "Punisher: War Zone," has drawn criticism for a social media post that appeared to celebrate the death of Bank of America executive Erin Piacenti, who was fatally stabbed in New York City's Times Square on Monday. Piacenti was in her first week back at the bank following a five-month maternity leave.
Alexander reposted a headline about the stabbing accompanied by a meme featuring the face of Luigi Mangione, an individual who gained notoriety after allegedly killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. The post, which was subsequently flagged as containing sensitive content, has sparked debate about online reactions to violence.
Alexander defended her post by suggesting that critics were part of a "hasbara," or an Israeli public relations operation, and linked the incident to Bank of America's past support for Israel. She further retweeted a user who stated they "didn't care" about Piacenti's death and claimed to have received death threats from "Zionists."
"Hasbara bots out in full swing just like the first time we asked people to boycott BofA," Alexander wrote in response to criticism. "Israel doesn't care about the woman who got killed, they care about the positive rating Bofa gave them in the middle of a genocide. There is huge money at stake."
The controversy echoes a wider discussion about the justification of violence, particularly among some on the far-left, following high-profile attacks. Journalist Douglas Murray commented on this trend in 2025, questioning whether individuals have the right to take matters into their own hands and murder others, and called for addressing the reasons why some public figures make excuses for such violence.
Authorities are investigating the motive behind the Times Square attack, with some reports indicating the suspect had a history of mental illness. The individual who wielded the knife also wounded another person before being fatally shot by police.