The shocking murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in Manhattan has sparked an unexpected phenomenon: social media infatuation with Luigi Mangione, the suspect in the case.
TikTok videos glamorising Mangione’s appearance and dramatising his extradition have garnered millions of views. From comparisons to infamous criminals to montages set to music by Taylor Swift and Pink Floyd, online discourse around Mangione often overlooks the gravity of the charges against him, including first-degree murder and terrorism-related offenses.
Experts told Fox News the fascination is driven by Mangione’s conventionally attractive looks, the mystique surrounding his alleged actions, and a broader cultural discontent with the healthcare industry.
Psychologists attribute the viral obsession to several factors, including the “halo effect,” where attractiveness skews perceptions of character, and groupthink on social media platforms.
The case has become a lens for unresolved societal frustrations, particularly with the U.S. healthcare system, as Mangione’s alleged manifesto and dramatic arrest align with an anti-establishment narrative. True crime’s popularity and the public’s fascination with “bad boy” archetypes further fuel the romanticisation of Mangione’s persona. Experts warn, however, that such group behaviours are often irrational, desensitising viewers to serious crimes.
Cultural commentators highlight how Mangione’s story symbolises a resurgence of counter-culture movements. Some view him as an anti-establishment figure, a notion amplified by TikTok’s participatory culture.
The glorification of his actions, driven by frustrations with societal systems like healthcare and mental health care, points to deeper issues in public discourse and media consumption. While the motives behind the murder remain unclear, the case has ignited debates over sensationalism, privilege, and the intersections of crime, psychology, and social justice.
“The obsession with Mangione highlights the extent of the broken mental health care system in the U.S., where millions are suffering without access to adequate care,” said Michael Petegorsky, chief strategy officer at Mindbloom.
“When basic mental health needs go unmet, people may gravitate toward sensationalized stories or irrational groupthink as an outlet for their frustration, curiosity, or even an unconscious attempt to process deeper societal issues.”
This has nothing to do with this guys looks and everything to do with turning an essential service, healthcare into a business, with all the corruption and ruthlessness, that comes with it……people in the US clearly don’t like it and want a public system like most other nations….just don’t model it on New Zealand if that ever happens, okay.
Yes, and i will add that the lies about covid and so called vax added to it.
There is a world wide anger still simmering. And that might be the beginning.
I hope it doesn’t stop with him, these people do harm, all they think about are themselves and quarterly profits, they tend to be narcissistic sociopaths and psychopaths and are just useful goyim to the elites.