Justice

These Tweets Show How Martin Shkreli Became the Most Hated Man on the Internet

December 17th 2015

Federal law enforcement agents arrested Martin Shkreli — the guy who became infamous after raising the price of life-saving drugs — at his Manhattan apartment on Thursday on charges of securities fraud. It is the latest in a long line of scandals that have earned Shkreli a reputation as the most hated man on the internet.

RELATED: Martin Shkreli Was Just Arrested

But Shkreli is not the only pharmaceutical executive who has come under fire for drug pricing practices, nor is the 5,000 percent price hike of Daraprim unique. What makes the former hedge fund manager particularly detestable to the public is his unapologetic attitude, and that comes across most clearly on Twitter.

As the CEO of Turing Pharmaceuticals, Shkreli raised the price of Daraprim, a drug used to treat AIDS and cancer patients, from $13.50 to $750 per pill. The New York Times report on the price hike launched Shkreli into the spotlight, and angry Twitter users scanned the CEO's account in an effort to understand the man behind the controversy.

Here's what they found.

The constant references to rap lyrics and photos of Shkreli riding hoverboards around the office appeared to validate unfavorable opinions about the 32-year-old, who stands accused of using funds from a drug company he founded to pay off investors who lost money at his hedge fund. But rather than make his Twitter account private or tone down his antagonistic language, Shkreli doubled down on social media, responding to reports about his company's business practices and weighing in on national politics.

He became particularly hostile toward Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders after the candidate condemned him for "holding hostage the patients who rely on this lifesaving medication by charging unconscionable prices just because he can."

Shkreli responded by challenging Sanders to a public debate.

Then he donated $2,700 to Sanders' campaign, the maximum individual contribution, in an attempt to secure a private meeting with the Vermont senator. When Sanders declined the donation, sending it to an HIV clinic instead, Shkreli lashed out by posting a series of memes that were critical of the candidate's policy proposals.

He developed a reputation as a Twitter troll after writing that he was "SO ANGRY" at Sanders that he punched a wall and broke his wrist.

And he posted photos of what he claimed was an x-ray of his own wrist. But some users responded by posting links to a medical website that appear to have the same photo, raising questions about his reported injury.

Asked to confirm how he injured his wrist, Shkreli told ATTN: "fuck you!!!!"

Twitter

Between his trolling and social media bravado, Shkreli became the face of pharmaceutical greed — in large part because his face was so visible and his demeanor so unabashed.

Here are a few other examples.

RELATED: Martin Shkreli Is at the Center of yet Another Sleazy Controversy

Shkreli made $5 million bail on Thursday after pleading not guilty to securities fraud, USA Today reports.

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