Chris Rock leaves SNL viewers shocked with savage five-word response on UnitedHealthcare CEO's assassination

Chris Rock has likened the assassination of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson to that of a drug hit.

The comedian shocked Saturday Night Live viewers as he quipped about trending news - opening up with a dig at Diddy, real name Sean Combs, who awaits trial having been charged with racketeering and sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion.

A 14-page federal indictment accuses the rapper of organizing events known as 'freak offs', while during a raid on one of the rapper's properties earlier this year, prosecutors claimed that Homeland Security found 1,000 bottles of baby oil and lube at his home.

"It's so hard just getting in the building tonight, so much security. My God, my God, I had to walk by a bunch of baby oil sniffing dogs. It was insane!" joked the comedian.

He then went on to talk about Luigi Mangione, the suspected gunman prosecutors allege killed healthcare boss Thompson in cold blood while he walked the streets of New York City on December 4.

Brian Thompson was shot dead from behind while walking to an insurance conference in New York at 6.46am on December 4 (United Healthcare Group)

Mangione was taken into custody in Altoona, Pennsylvania, on gun charges, but was later charged by New York investigators with murder, possession of a loaded firearm, possession of a forged instrument, and criminal possession of a weapon.

Rock continued: "Everybody's worried, everybody's worried. I mean, we got Luigi. We got Luigi you know, and that's good.

"I really feel sorry for the for the family. I mean, everybody's fixated on how good looking this guy looks - if he look like Jonah Hill no one would care. They'd already have given him the chair already... he'd be dead.

"Okay, but he actually killed a man. A man? A man with a family. A man with kids, man. I mean, I have condolences. I have real condolences for, you know, the healthcare CEO. I mean, this is a real person, you know?"

The 59-year-old went on: "But you also got to go. You know, sometimes drug dealers get shot. Alright? I mean, you've seen The Wire, right?"

Luigi Mangione was arrested in Pennsylvania and charged with the murder of Thompson. He has entered a plea of not guilty (Pennsylvania Department of Corrections)

Yes, he actually gave that five-word response - 'sometimes drug dealers get shot', pretty savage, and the comedian's set left viewers in the audience and at home gasping... although some apparently agreed with him.

Taking to Reddit one user wrote: "LOL. That CEO was more like a drug stealer. Denying people drugs they paid to receive, and Chris Rock is right. If you steal money that people gave you to cover the cost of drugs ... your kneecaps are going to be.... Well ... Nevermind."