Okay babes, like buckle up, because this story is literally insane. Remember Luigi Mangione? Yeah, the 26-year-old dude who totally blew up on TikTok last year ranting about the American healthcare system while eating a Big Mac in his car? Well, like… he’s now facing the actual death penalty, and no, this is not clickbait.
So first of all, rewind to early 2024. Luigi Mangione was basically just this angry guy from Pittsburgh who posted rants about everything from insurance companies to why hospitals charge $400 for an aspirin. His most viral post? A 3-minute unhinged video called “I Got Charged $11,237 for Stitches, and I’m Gonna Snap.” It got, like, 9 million views in 48 hours. Wild.
People were calling him “the healthcare vigilante” and even making merch with his face on it. And like… let’s be real, a lot of what he was saying was kinda true, but the vibes? Definitely unhinged.
He even gave interviews to fringe YouTube shows and podcast bros, saying stuff like, “I’m not saying we need a revolution, but if it happens, I better be on the poster.” Um. Yikes?
Fast forward to December 2024 — Luigi is suddenly arrested in Pennsylvania, accused of literally assassinating UnitedHealthcare’s CEO, Brian Thompson, outside a hotel in Manhattan. Like… WHAT?
According to police, he drove up in a stolen Prius (because of course) and allegedly shot Thompson in broad daylight. Cops say it was premeditated and politically motivated, and when they arrested him, he had a whole typed-out manifesto in his backpack. Like girl, this isn’t Reddit.
He’s now locked up in the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, facing federal murder charges, illegal weapons possession, and a bunch of forgery stuff too. And get this — he pleaded not guilty. The audacity.
As of April 1st (no joke), Attorney General Pam Bondi officially told prosecutors to seek the death penalty. That’s, like, the biggest possible punishment under federal law. Her press release literally said: “This was a cold, calculated act of domestic terrorism. Justice demands the ultimate penalty.”
Luigi’s defense team is having none of it. His lawyer, Melanie Cruz, called the move “barbaric and political,” and said the DOJ is trying to make an example out of him: “My client is not a terrorist. He is a mentally ill man radicalized by a broken system.”
Oh, and in court, Luigi showed up wearing loafers and was literally shackled at the ankles. Someone in the courtroom whispered, “He looks like he walked out of a Panera Bread and into a crime scene.” Not even kidding.
Honestly, the internet is so divided. Some people are like, “Yes queen, take down Big Healthcare,” and others are like, “Uhhh, he murdered a dude, maybe don’t stan?” There’s even a GoFundMe that raised over 200,000 dollars for his legal fees. Meanwhile, victim advocates are out here fuming, saying he’s being turned into some kind of revolutionary hero when he’s actually a killer.
Also — side note — that manifesto? It’s being passed around on 4chan and Reddit like it’s the new Communist Manifesto, which is honestly super gross.
The trial isn’t expected to start until early 2026, but pre-trial motions are heating up. Bondi is reportedly pushing for the DOJ to fast-track the case. Meanwhile, TikTok quietly banned #Mangione content, but people just spell his name wrong to get around it. Classic.
This whole thing is like if Joker had a TikTok account and a beef with Blue Cross Blue Shield. It’s sad, it’s scary, and it’s way too real. Whether he’s a misguided rebel or a full-on murderer, one thing’s for sure: Luigi Mangione went from viral to vile real quick.
Stay tuned, babes — this is only gonna get messier.
XOXO,
Valley Girl News
Photo from CTV News.
