What’s Behind the Hero Worship of Luigi Mangione?
Luigi Mangione, now facing extradition to New York for murder charges in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, has gained online folk-hero status. More at Fox.
It’s a dreadful sign of the times that Mr. Mangione is being celebrated in too many places as a worthy avenger instead of an (allegedly) deranged killer. But that is how our culture has degraded—egged on for political purposes or audience ratings by many who know better.
Online, fans exist for almost everything and everyone. Following the shooting death of Brian Thompson, a fandom emerged around his suspected killer that seemed unifying in a way few others have been. He became an avatar that anyone who’d ever struggled with a hospital bill could understand.
Luigi Mangione should not be a folk hero after being accused in Thompson’s death.
But he is.
So now we have to deal with why… People feel powerless and hopeless in front of the U.S. health care system.