Luigi Mangione have drawn widespread attention on social media, and notably within the LGTBQ+ community, with many users and commenters openly thirsting after the alleged killer of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.Mangione allegedly shot and killed Thompson on December 4 as he left his hotel in Midtown Manhattan.
The suspect was arrested at a McDonald's in Altoona, Pennsylvania, after a tip from an employee on Monday, and was quickly charged with second-degree murder and three additional gun charges and forgery in New York.While many were aghast and horrified at the brazen shooting on the streets of New York City, many others have come to view Mangione as a sort of folk hero—expressing their outrage and frustration with the nation's private health insurance industry.
Many also said they did not condone or approve of Mangione's actions but also struggled to feel empathy for the top executive of a health insurance company.Due to Mangione's exceptionally good looks and toned physique, he has also become a "sex symbol" for many people.
Even before Mangione's identity was revealed, the widely circulated surveillance images that allegedly captured just his eyes and eyebrows above a surgical mask, as well as an image of the lower half of his face as he smiled at a Manhattan hostel clerk, drew significant speculation about his appearance.When the alleged shooter's identity was announced and his Instagram and other social media accounts were found, the thirsting for Mangione exploded—with the gay community leading the charge."I would like to say the gay community is processing it through the analysis of capitalism and activism, but girl..." John Arthur Hill, an actor and producer who hosts The John Hill Show on SiriusXM, told Newsweek. "It's because he's hot."All the shirtless Mangione's photos people could find—showcasing his jacked body and well-defined six-pack abs—went viral across the internet.