CNN anchors discussing the newfound fame and fandom behind the alleged shooter who killed a UnitedHealthcare CEO focused heavily on his physical appearance, even suggesting at one point that the broadcast needed to remove a graphic banner covering an image of his abs in order to understand his online stardom.
On Monday, 26-year-old Luigi Mangione was arrested at a McDonalds in Altoona, Pennsylvania. He was later charged with the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, who was shot to death on the streets of New York City last week.
"The man accused of killing UnitedHealthCare's CEO [is] going viral. Images of Luigi Mangione seem to captivate the attention of online masses," said CNN anchor Kasie Hunt as she began a segment about the alleged shooter. "The Manhattan killing also uncovering a deep dissatisfaction with the United States health care industry."
"Look at the photos they used when this man got picked up. Not the 14-pack!" said a TikTok user in the segment's introductory clip.
During a table discussion, CNN commentators noted that a significant fan base had developed around Mangione, attributing this to the American people's dissatisfaction with the healthcare industry and Mangione's looks, reported Mediaite.
"The shallowness of the American people who are online is very much on display here. Yes, there is absolutely a bubbling anger about inequity in the country at large and in the healthcare system, no question. But so [many] of the clips we were watching at the top of this segment are driven by the fact that this is an attractive person," analyst Kate Bedingfield said on CNN.
Hunt then chimed in, stating "you'd have to drop the banner to see why," referring to the chyron at the bottom of the screen which had been obscuring Mangione's abs at the time.
"And and it's true it is deeply troubling that we are celebrating this person who's committed cold-blooded murder because, you know, he clearly went to the gym," Bedingfield continued.
The online reaction to Mangione's identity being revealed has been overwhelming, with users frequently posting suggestive comments or images of or about him. The online obsession with him has even resulted in users calling for his release, with "Free Him" becoming a trending topic on X after he was taken into custody.
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