Luigi Mangione, the suspected United Healthcare CEO shooter, has gone meme-viral. Gen Z’s memes probably don’t get more puzzling than this to older gens; over the last week, every social platform has been rife with posts glorifying Mangione. From his good looks, his GoodReads reviews, and generally being Italian to, yes, his charged murder, young people are reacting in real time through gifs on X and even merchandise for his message, “Deny, Defend, Depose.” And while experts in psychology and crime alike say the romanticization of a criminal is not new, this mass scale has more to do with a “collective frustration with the health care system” that Mangione represents to them. Beyond the memes, he’s being called a “folk hero,” inspiring a lookalike contest in New York City, and merch including t-shirts, hats, and “wine tumblers.” Many are also sharing their own negative experiences with healthcare, though most jokes are about Mangione’s digital footprint or appearance. (The Baltimore Banner)
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