Hmmm
- Thread starter Diogenes
- Start date
He should have fun in prison then.
Many Democrats adore him, you know.
Luigi Mangione, the 26-year-old accused of murdering UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in December 2024, has become surprisingly popular with certain segments of the public, particularly online and among those frustrated with the U.S. healthcare system.
He's been lionized as a folk hero or anti-corporate rebel, spawning memes, merchandise, fan fiction, and even a sold-out musical in San Francisco that's eyeing a national tour.
A December 2024 poll showed over one-third of young adults viewing him positively, and his legal defense fund raised over $500,000 from supporters.
Rallies chanting "Free Luigi" have drawn crowds at courthouses, while TikTok videos of "CEO assassin" walking tours and viral tattoos of his face highlight the fervor.
This adoration isn't universal—critics call it a "dark fandom" or societal sickness, comparing it to past glorifications of outlaws like Jesse James, but fueled by modern social media and anti-elite anger.
In prison, he's reportedly a model inmate favored by guards and peers, with over $40,000 in his commissary from fan gifts.
Even Sean "Diddy" Combs allegedly threw tantrums over Mangione stealing the spotlight among inmates.
His follower count exploded to half a million on X (formerly Twitter) pre-arrest, now in the millions, blending thirst (e.g., viral searches for his "ankles" or "loafers") with ideological backing for targeting a "parasite" in corporate America.
The phenomenon persists into 2025, with street interviews revealing fans "marrying" AI versions of him and crypto tokens like $LUIGI (though many are scams).