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Suspected UnitedHealthcare CEO killer Luigi Mangione stunned the internet after his arrest for allegedly shooting and killing Brian Thompson, with many online users hailing him as “hot” and “a person of interest in more ways than one.” The 26-year-old Ivy League graduate’s looks drew considerable attention, with some supporters online calling him “sexy” and demanding his freedom.
Psychotherapist and author Dr. Robi Ludwig noted that Mangione had become a “folk hero” to some upset with the health insurance industry, with beauty playing a significant factor. “Beauty is power, and from an evolutionary perspective, people associate beauty with health and well-being, and so sometimes it takes a while for our brain to catch up,” she said.
Jonathan Alpert, a psychotherapist and author, pointed out that people form a “cognitive bias” based on a single attribute of a person, such as Mangione’s looks. “People tend to make snap judgements that lead to poor decisions based strictly on this single trait,” he said.
Far-left journalist Taylor Lorenz, who has been criticized for her lack of empathy and “joy” about the murder, wrote that she had spoken to several people who were “glorifying” Mangione online, with their frustrations with the healthcare system playing a significant role.
Comedian and host Taylor Tomlinson joked about the widespread attention on Mangione’s looks, saying, “I feel confident that I’m the only late night host who can honestly say: ‘Would you even have to be that attractive to a McDonald’s employee to be like, ‘Wait, okay, you being in here is suspicious.'”
The media has also been criticized for fetishizing Mangione’s looks, with some outlets airing segments showcasing his physique or publishing shirtless photos of him. Dr. Alpert noted that the media bears some blame for driving the trend online. “Both traditional and social media have emphasized the killer’s looks – whether intentional or not, it drives user engagement and clicks,” he said.