The 26-year-old murder suspect, Luigi Mangione, in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, has become an unlikely fashion icon. Mangione appeared in court on December 23, 2024, wearing a burgundy crewneck sweater that flew off the shelves at Nordstrom after his court appearance shot him to fame.
Mangione appeared in a Manhattan courtroom facing serious charges that included first-degree murder and terrorism-related offenses. He wore a white-collared shirt under the burgundy sweater, light grey slacks, and orange shoes. The outfit, particularly the sweater, got media and social media abuzz, with many guessing it was a $1,000 Maison Margiela. It eventually emerged that it was Nordstrom's Washable Merino Crewneck Sweater, which originally sold for $89.50 but was available for a discounted price of $62.65.
From the instant Mangione stepped into the courtroom, social media exploded with comments about his sweater. An X user wrote: “This diva already setting trends,” while another added: “I want one for Christmas so bad.”
The experts caution against the tendency to glamorize defendants accused of serious crimes because this can distort public perception and trivialize the gravity of their actions. The Mangione case has drawn parallels with other cases in the past where defendants turned into fashion icons during their trials, such as the Menendez brothers in the 1990s.
His lawyer, Karen Agnifilo, has expressed concerns that he will not receive a fair trial. The Independent reported that Agnifilo highlighted the presence of security officials joined by New York Mayor Eric Adams. The news outlet quoted her telling the Judge Gregory Carro:
“They are literally treating him like he is some sort of political fodder, like some sort of spectacle. He was on display for everyone to see in the biggest stage perp walk I’ve ever seen in my career, it was absolutely unnecessary. He’s been cooperative with law enforcement... There was no reason for the NYPD and everybody to have these big assault rifles.”
“It was perfectly choreographed, and what was the New York City Mayor doing at this press conference, your honor? That just made it utterly political.”
The surge in Luigi Mangione’s social media popularity
Since Mangione was named as a person of interest in the murder of Thompson, his social media blew up. Luigi Mangione’s Instagram following surged from about 975 to more than 27,000— many of whom left flirtatious and supportive comments. Attention has been marked by a mixture of admiration and romantic interest, with some users even claiming attraction for him and calling for crowdfunding for his legal defense.
A New York Post report explained that during his prison stint inside Pennsylvania's Huntingdon State Correctional Institute, Mangione had received an inordinate amount of fan mail and money sent to him from admirers. The reports noted that, while in jail, he received 87 letters and 54 emails and that money was deposited 163 times into his commissary account.
Luigi Mangione case update
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Luigi Mangione, suspected of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, pleaded not guilty to various counts that include first-degree murder and terrorism-related offenses. The suspect entered the plea at his arraignment on December 23, 2024, from a Manhattan courtroom on all 11 criminal counts against him at the state level.
Mangione is accused of fatally shooting Thompson outside a hotel in Midtown Manhattan on December 4, 2024. The prosecution not only blamed him for murder but rather committed an act of terrorism, which immensely increased the severity of his indictment. If convicted of these state charges, life imprisonment without parole could be possible for Mangione. Besides, he was also indicted under some federal charges, which may lead even to the death penalty or any other severe punishment.
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