On Monday, 26-year-old Luigi Mangione was named the suspect in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. And, almost immediately, the internet was brazen about its thirst for him.
When news broke out about the shooting last Wednesday, the internet also wasn’t shy about its lack of sympathy about the killing.
Jokes and memes popped up, fueled by Americans’ anger toward the healthcare system and the elite class.
As more details emerged — from “deny,” “defend,” and “depose” etched on the ammunition (the words are shorthand for insurer tactics) to an early photo harkening comparisons to Timothée Chalamet — the killer became more of a star online. He was called “The Adjuster” by fan fiction writers and a folk hero by others.
The release of the suspect’s name only increased the online frenzy. He is young, conventionally attractive, and has photos of himself shirtless online. (The latter is only a portion of his social media footprint, having allegedly been a fan of controversial podcaster Andrew Huberman and a wannabe reader of Ayn Rand, whose work influenced today’s conservatives.)
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The discovery of the suspect’s online presence and shirtless photos led to, as one can expect, more memes, jokes, and even a fancam:
A man being attractive is enough for online horniness to ensue — but about an alleged murderer? Well, yes. People have had the hots for killers for decades, including abhorrent serial killers like Jeffrey Dahmer and Ted Bundy. The term for such infatuation is called hybristophilia, and the American Psychological Association defines it as a “sexual interest in and attraction to those who commit crimes.” There are various theories as to why hybristophilia happens, such as women believing they can “fix” the killer or it being an extreme form of fanaticism.
The suspect is white, as are the aforementioned serial killers. The internet would likely be having a different conversation if the suspect wasn’t white due to implicit bias of who people believe commits crimes (people of color).
The victim also made a difference in the public response. On the same day the suspect’s name was released, Daniel Penny was found not guilty of the death of homeless man Jordan Neely. While the internet is sympathetic towards the CEO murder suspect, the same isn’t true for Penny.
This might be because, in addition to potential hybristophilia, people online are also drawn to the alleged political motivations of the suspect. The New York Times reported that he had a manifesto on him that railed against healthcare companies for valuing profit over people. A spokesperson for someone who knew the suspect told the Associated Press that the suspect experienced severe back pain for years. This may have contributed to these resentments. Difficulty receiving healthcare and anger towards the system are experiences many Americans relate to — regardless of their political affiliation. In a politically polarized time, people on either side of the political spectrum have rallied around this “folk hero.”
Given that there’s still much to learn about the killing and an eventual trial to be had, the thirst for the suspect may not die down anytime soon.
