Elliot Rodger was the self-proclaimed king of the incels, a deeply troubled individual who took the lives of innocent people as a form of revenge because he believed the world had wronged him. He felt entitled to romantic and physical attention from women and became consumed by hatred when he didn’t receive it. His actions were fueled by a toxic combination of entitlement, resentment, and unchecked anger.
Growing up, Elliot had what most would consider a privileged life. His parents were wealthy and well-connected. His father worked as an assistant director on The Hunger Games, and his mother socialized with celebrities like Michael Jackson and George Lucas. He lived in beautiful homes in London and Los Angeles and went on extravagant vacations. But instead of appreciating his good fortune, Elliot measured his worth by his family’s wealth, designer clothes, and expensive cars. He looked down on those he deemed beneath him and obsessed over social status.
When Elliot was seven years old, his parents divorced, which deeply angered him. He blamed his mother while admiring his father for quickly finding a new girlfriend. This woman became his stepmother, and Elliot resented her, especially when his half-brother was born. He saw his younger sibling as a rival who might outshine him one day.
In school, Elliot desperately wanted to be part of the popular crowd and believed he deserved a place among them. But he made no effort to be friendly or social. He boasted about his parents’ wealth and acted superior to others, which only alienated him. His resentment towards women also grew. He saw other boys dating and forming relationships, while he remained alone. Instead of making an effort to connect with girls, he withdrew further, waiting for them to approach him, believing they should automatically be drawn to his so-called magnificence.
Elliot attended an all-boys private school, spent most of his time alone playing video games, and rarely interacted with girls. Yet he expected them to desire him. He became enraged when he saw couples together, seething with jealousy and resentment. He posted videos online, ranting about how unfair it was that women ignored him while choosing men he deemed unworthy. His self-image was inflated to the point where he couldn’t understand why he was being rejected.
By 2013, at age 21, Elliot discovered the online incel community. This was a dark corner of the internet where men with similar frustrations vented their anger, self-pity, and entitlement. For the first time in his life, Elliot felt like he belonged somewhere. But instead of finding support to improve his life, he became even more radicalized. His frustration turned to rage, and he started fantasizing about revenge.
In 2014, Elliot wrote a 137-page manifesto detailing his grievances against the world and his plans for what he called the “Day of Retribution.” He planned to first kill his stepmother and half-brother because he resented them. Then, he intended to murder his two college roommates, lure others into his apartment for unspeakable acts, and finally launch a violent attack on the sorority girls he envied. His plan ended with a grand finale where he would unleash destruction before taking his own life.
On May 23, 2014, Elliot executed his horrific plan. Though he ultimately spared his stepmother and brother, he murdered his roommates and their friend. Their names were Chang Yuen Hong, George Chen, and Wei Hong Wong. Afterward, he uploaded his final video online, a chilling message in which he declared his intent to punish the world for the perceived injustices against him. He then sent his manifesto to 34 people, including his parents, former friends, and teachers.
He drove to the sorority house he had targeted, but when no one opened the door, he turned his rage on three young women walking by. Catherine Cooper and Veronica Weiss lost their lives that day, while their friend survived despite being shot five times. Elliot then continued his rampage, shooting randomly at people and killing Christopher Martinez before engaging in a police chase. Eventually, he crashed his car, and by the time officers reached him, he had already taken his own life.
The case shocked the world and brought attention to the toxic incel subculture. Disturbingly, some men online defended Elliot, blaming women for rejecting him and suggesting that his crimes could have been avoided if only someone had given him what he wanted. This mindset completely missed the point. Elliot was not a victim. He was a deeply disturbed individual who let his entitlement and resentment consume him to the point of murder.
As discussions about Elliot Rodger and incels continue online, it is important to remember the real victims. Christopher Martinez, Catherine Cooper, Veronica Weiss, George Chen, Wei Hong Wong, and Chang Yuen Hong were innocent people who lost their lives because of one man’s twisted beliefs. Their names and stories should never be overshadowed by the man who stole their futures.
