The Consequences of Suicidal Empathy

Empathy has been weaponized with palpably destructive results. 

Richard Kirk | May 22, 2026

Rhamell Burke had been arrested four times since February 2nd for assault, burglary, drugs, and weapons charges. On May 7th he was released from New York’s Bellevue Hospital psychiatric facility, and a few hours later, he allegedly shoved seventy-six-year-old Ross Falzone down a flight of subway stairs, resulting in Falzone’s death. One of the prior assault charges involved a young woman who declined to press charges. The 23-year-old lady later said, “Maybe a part of me was just like, I don’t want to put another black man in jail.” Reportedly, she now regrets her choice, the tragic consequence of which has been cited as an instance of suicidal empathy, or more accurately in this case, homicidal empathy.

The term “suicidal empathy” was coined by Professor Gad Saad, and his new book, Suicidal Empathy: Dying to be Kind, revolves around the concept. Rhamell Burke’s repeated low- or no-consequence legal encounters and the young woman’s confession about her mental disposition constitute two prime examples of the psychic malady in which compassion for ostensibly victimized groups is so overblown that it outweighs social well-being. Saad provides a plethora of additional examples, including attitudes toward illegal aliens, drug users, the homeless, transgenders, Hamas terrorists, and even socialism. These feelings are connected to destructive policies such as open borders, massive benefits for illegals, absurd indulgences for criminals, men in women’s sports, anti-merit DEI programs, and numerous........

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