“Double, double toil and trouble”—the cauldron of public opinion is once again brewing, this time casting criminals as misunderstood cultural icons. The romanticization of villains and criminals is nothing new. Yet, in an era where social media actively blurs the line between fact and fiction, Luigi Mangione is recast as a martyr, raising questions about the performative nature of advocacy and the integrity of the justice system.
Gen Z claims to be a generation of advocates, fighting for the rights of the marginalized and the forgotten. However, they rely too heavily on digital activism to challenge the status quo. Following the George Floyd protests and the rise of the Black Lives Matter movement, people observed Blackout Tuesday on June 2, 2020. A wave of black squares flooded social media feeds. The music industry went dark. What was meant to serve as a “‘day of action’ to help ‘provoke accountability and change,’” was simply performative solidarity.
In case you haven’t been fangirling over Luigi Mangione, let me refresh your memory.
Luigi Mangione, 26, is accused of murdering UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in Midtown Manhattan on December 4, 2024. Mangione was arrested on December 19 in a Pennsylvania McDonald’s—seriously, not the smartest move when you are the subject of a tri-state manhunt. Since his arrest, a “FreeLuigi” campaign has been sweeping social media.
Mangione’s portrayal as the “Anti-Hero” stems not only from Americans’ disdain for the healthcare industry, but also from Gen Z’s sexualization of him. Now, rumors are circulating on the social media platform X of alleged sex-tapes. There is no evidence that such tapes exist, but the very idea has social media in a frenzy.
Mangione’s legal defense has even set up a website informing fans where to send him fan mail—and yes, pictures are allowed. However, Mangione has personally requested that each letter contain no more than five photos. Be warned!
The healthcare industry is critical to the public relations economy, making up nearly 35% of all large agencies’ revenues. PRWeek’s Healthcare Awards took place on February 4, 2025 in New York City with tickets ranging from $650 to nearly $6,000. At the event, reporter Alexander Sammon for Slate Magazine writes of United Health’s $400.3 billion revenue in 2024, yet the company incurred costs following Thompson’s murder:
“And then, as we all know, someone […] offed the company’s CEO and then escaped the city without hassle, and a huge percentage of America said, Well, he’s got a point. So that was really bad, especially as far as relating to the public goes.”
CBS News conducted on the ground interviews with New Yorkers. They asked what people thought of the mass support for Mangione. One New Yorker states, “What he did was not right. But, I guess I can see why people would wanna support him or feel like they have to support him […] he’s somewhat of a hero.” Another New Yorker says, “People think he’s attractive.” The duality between these two kinds of reason for support is considered by another New Yorker to be a promotion of hate and violence.
Certainly there are many whose disdain for the American healthcare industry prompts their support for the actions of Mangione. However, this disdain does not create an internet sensation. Malaika Uddin calls this internet frenzy the “halo effect” where a positive trait casts an irrational glaze over everything else:
‘“In Mangione’s case, the halo effect has created a narrative where his education, his symmetrical features, and his brooding mugshot have turned him from an alleged criminal into a misunderstood anti-hero. This bias reveals a deeply ingrained societal flaw: we struggle to hold attractive people accountable.”’
The murder of Brian Thompson did not leave people in tears. Instead, it led Gen Z to paint the gunman as a freedom fighter. Ajay Eisenberg for The Stanford (boo!) Daily calls Mangione America’s “murderous prodigal son.” Gloria Oladipo for The Guardian writes that while the coverage of Thompson’s assassination is partially a function of frustration with the healthcare industry, the empathetic coverage of Mangione is the result of Anglo-Saxon male privilege.
Thousands remain imprisoned for marijuana-related offenses, while individuals who have taken lives are granted freedom before those incarcerated for far lesser crimes. Brian Thompson had a family, and as they struggle with their grief, his killer is being celebrated. His death has twisted reality and reshaped our perception of justice. Mark my words—if Mangione is found not guilty, he will write a book, and it will fly off the shelves.
The first Amendment constitutional right to petition the government has essentially been reduced to a social media graphic. Millions repost the same image, believing they have fulfilled their civic duty as informed citizens when, in reality, the fight has yet to begin. Online petitions have turned into nothing more than mailing lists.
If Gen Z aims to be the generation that paves the way for social justice campaigns and movements, they need to decide which movements they truly support. Fighting for the “bad boys” is becoming a priority on the Gen Z agenda. Fighting against police brutality, mass deportations, refugee crises, and other social justice issues feels so distant. Yet sexualizing criminals on TikTok has become a part of the day’s to-do list.
Featured Image Source: @gedogfx on Instagram
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