Luigi Mangione is setting a new standard and it’s over for straight men

Everyone’s delulu for Lulu – but it would be a mistake to dismiss his fandom as frivolous or shallow. There are deep lessons on female desire and masculinity embedded in this global crush.

When it comes to what we find attractive, there’s no accounting for taste, and nobody in this world has it all. Nobody has universal appeal.

Unless you are Luigi Mangione.

His appeal is so widespread that everyone is willing to share, with supporters dubbing themselves “sister wives”.

It would be easy to dismiss the furore as silly: just shallow women and gay men simping over good looks. But that wouldn’t explain the lesbians also going feral for him. And, in some cases, even the straight men. Older women want to mother him. Older men love him like a son.

No, in the case of Luigi Mangione, it goes far, far beyond his looks. This mass infatuation is merely revealing deep-seated truths about our western collective consciousness, values system, and sociopolitical landscape (including outside of the USA)… as well as what women want and admire in a man.

So what exactly is it about Luigi Mangione that has so captured imaginations the world over? In this article I will go over the various factors that have combined into him becoming an unlikely pin-up boy.

But at the end of the day, I think it boils down to just one thing. Read till the end to find out what that is (yes, this is bait. I’ll do whatever I can to retain your frazzled attention span).

Rising Luigi fever

Most people, particularly Americans who are sick (literally) of corrupt health insurance companies, were already riding for whoever shot United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson on 4 December 2024, long before any suspect was identified. When Luigi was arrested five days later and his photos released, it only gilded what was already a lily in the public’s eyes. He was heroic and handsome – what wasn’t there to love?

(N.B. Luigi Mangione is legally innocent. He has not been found guilty and at the time of writing, his case has not yet gone to trial. But the media has for the most part assumed his guilt, and the general discourse has followed this assumption).

Though vigilante justice is a thorny topic, there was widespread understanding for why somebody might do what the shooter did. And in some ways it worked - suddenly, health insurance claims that had been stalled for months were cleared without questions. A controversial policy on anaesthesia was scrapped. Claims were going through immediately. The left and right were suddenly in agreement about something – the awful state of American healthcare. Class consciousness was activating. Real, tangible change was happening. Luigi became a figure to rally behind. He was someone who (allegedly) got things done.

Then into the canon of Luigi images were added two landmark events: his epic perp walk upon arrival to New York city on 19 December, and his filmed court hearing appearance shortly thereafter.

If the perp walk were meant to somehow discredit him, it backfired spectacularly. Surrounded by a hefty retinue of heavily armed NYPD officers, with a fresh taper fade, threaded eyebrows, and somehow making an orange jumpsuit and shackles look like a runway fit, Luigi slayed that perp walk with his head held high. If he was intimidated by the spectacle, as was no doubt the intention, he showed it not a smidge. Comparisons were made to Renaissance paintings and Jesus Christ – in visual language, he was the single bright spot amongst the dark uniforms of the NYPD. By making such a fuss, they only gave him more significance and made him look more powerful. He became a martyr, thus sealing his hero status in the public consciousness.

Then there was his court appearance a few days later. The stylish burgundy jumper and white shirt combo that he wore, strategically matching his lawyer Karen Agnifilo’s outfit, sent the Internet into orbit. The jumper sold out immediately. In the face of another press frenzy at the courthouse, Luigi continued to carry himself with dignity and a certain sass, even managing to flash a couple of smiles, and fans lost their minds.

But as I pointed out at the start of this piece, it isn’t just about appearances…

The perfect canvas for projection

Luigi is currently, and for the foreseeable future, without a voice (he really is the perfect man – seen and not heard. That’s a joke, before the incels start crying). Since his arrest, his image has been widely disseminated but he has barely been permitted to speak. The only words we got out of him were that one time he tried to speak to the press, before being slammed against a wall and hustled hastily away indoors.

And so what does one do with a pretty, but silent, image? Why, project onto it, of course! Luigi has had no opportunities to risk giving everyone the ick by speaking, so the people are free to let their imaginations run rampant. His every gesture can be interpreted and dissected any which way, with no chance for him to verify or disprove.

This lack of data has led to a collective cognitive dissonance, both sides of which favour him regardless. On the one hand, he is seen as a murderer with a conscience. He’s a class-conscious social justice warrior - our “vigilante boo” as he was dubbed in a viral parody song (a cover of The Plain White Tees’ Hey There Delilah).

He has been nicknamed The Adjuster (a reference to the professionals who evaluate health insurance claims), and Saint Luigi. What actor, musician, or influencer, however charismatic, can compete with a man who (allegedly) killed for his beliefs, and risked his life for the greater good of the American people? What celebrity could match up, let alone an ordinary man? He sacrificed himself for the collective. He’s a man with conviction – though nobody wants him to get one.

Some of the funnier images to come from his supporters are the countless Photoshopped “alibis” for Luigi at the time of the shooting in New York city.

On the other hand, there is a very strong sentiment that Luigi is innocent. This is mostly because the evidence presented so far to the public is unconvincing to the point of being utterly spurious. I won’t go into it all here, but suffice to say that nobody is convinced. As Luigi’s Pennsylvania lawyer Thomas Dickie famously stated at a press conference, proffering his empty hands and inviting the cameras to zoom in on the evidence for Luigi’s guilt, “here’s all the evidence… nothing, I’ve seen nothing”.

So, there is also a fervent confidence that Luigi is not the shooter, with theories ranging from a case of mistaken identity to a framing.

Yet regardless of whether he’s a courageous killer or wrongfully accused innocent, all parties are in agreement: they want him set free. A person who can inspire equal love amongst those who believe him a murderer and those who believe him innocent must be unique, at least in recent history. For the moment we don’t know which is correct.

And that’s the basis of every crush: a lack of information.

But the information that is available has only bolstered his perfect man status.

The digital footprint of a saint

As Luigi is now locked away out of sight, the only option for the fans and online sleuths has been to plumb his past. And, with a rigour and determination that should intimidate the FBI, they have uncovered every possible thing that can be found online (even Venmo texts). And there couldn’t be a cleaner digital footprint.

His socials include him sharing notes on books that he read, an essay on the Roman empire from his high school days, and code on GitHub. His Goodreads reviews indicate an earnest, deep thinker who was concerned with the state of the world.

Needless to say, photos from all stages of his life have been circulated and edits have been made. Not only does the man not take a bad photo, there has been nothing scandalous, risqué, or even cringe.

There aren’t even any selfies; we all know that men who take too many selfies are suspicious. The spiciest thing out there is a video of him at a daytime party smashing open a can of beer on his head and drinking it. Oooh, shocking(!) He is even considerate enough to step to the side to avoid splashing anyone. All photos seem to be taken by others, and usually feature him with a big smile.

It’s true that his X account suggested political leanings with standard tech bro overtones - those of us who work in tech know the type. But in Luigi’s case there seems to be a genuine humility – I don’t sense the arrogance typical of that ilk. I’m an expert at annoying men who consider themselves rational (the worst!) and making them cry through debate, and I’m so far undefeated – perhaps he would be the final boss. Mind you, I’ve never met him so this is me giving a perfect demonstration of imaginative projection.

Despite the damning media portrayal and spin, all reports from people who knew him have been overwhelmingly positive. He is described as a kind, friendly, helpful, studious guy. Not even any bitter exes have come out of the woodwork. His Reddit posts mostly involve sharing information about his back condition and encouraging and uplifting others with similar issues.

One of the viral photos making the rounds is of Luigi holding a tub of ice cream tied with a bow, smiling widely at the camera. The story behind the photo is that once in his university dorm he overheard a girl expressing sadness that the ice cream in the communal fridge had run out. So he went out and got her some and, not having any ribbon handy, fashioned a bow from painter’s tape. Apparently it’s a fancy ice cream brand too. Is this man real?

So it’s not all just projection. The aggregated impression is of a very intelligent, wholesome, and thoughtful man who wanted to help people. A true gentleman, in other words.

He’s a nerd

In our techno-patriarchy, the nerd reigns supreme. It’s brainpower, not brawn, that will get you the riches and authority in our day and age. Sadly, most of the tech overlords are either not famous and/or ugly. Despite being some of the most successful men in the world, they don’t get thirsted over much (Mark Zuckerberg or Elon Musk? I rest my case.)

And then came Luigi.

High school valedictorian. Computer science bachelor’s and master’s degree. Ivy league. Gaming nerd. Robot builder. And he has a six pack.

With pop culture’s hunks being predominantly entertainers, and content about them devolving into increasingly inane brainrot fodder, Luigi has been a breath of fresh air. He’s not in showbiz, he didn’t seek the limelight, he was just a studious guy who may or may not have become politically radicalised.

Not only did he prompt a surge in interest in STEM, now a whole generation of people are suddenly interested in the American justice system. Terms like jury nullification have become common parlance, young people are taking an active interest in the law, and of course there is now an uncomfortably bright spotlight being shone on the American health insurance industry.

Girls sigh over celebrities, but really want to marry a smart, hardworking, kind, and ordinary man. No Hollywood hunk can realistically fit that role. Luigi has filled that gap in the imaginations of young women the world over. He’s famous, possibly a killer, a powerful political symbol, but he’s also just one of us. It’s a contradiction, but as I already pointed out, cognitive dissonance is part and parcel of this entire affair.

He has suffered

Spondylolisthesis (a spine condition), brain fog, existential worries – the man has been through it. A privileged upbringing didn’t shield Luigi from pain and suffering. This only humanises him further, grounding his image in a relatable reality and giving the illusion of closeness.

Reports of him cutting out his family and friends and disappearing in the months before the shooting also hint at some emotional strife. Cutting out the people closest to you is not something one does lightly.

And then of course there is the image, keeping women up at night with tears in their eyes, of Luigi in a prison cell. It’s indubitable that he has suffered, and is continuing to suffer, deep injustice: the aforementioned perp walk, for a start (something that could never legally happen in the UK, where I am from), the backward presumption of guilt until proven innocent, and the documentaries that have already spawned, sporting outrageously presumptuous titles like Luigi Mangione: the mind of a killer. He’s been denied bail and treated like he’s already been convicted for murder.

Luigi has been profoundly wronged, and appears to stand alone, facing off against the weight of the American judicial system, with three sets of charges levied against him. These charges are widely acknowledged to be excessive in nature, including stalking and terrorism. It’s awoken a potent protectiveness in the people. They feel compassion for him, feel the sting of injustice, and so are all drawn further in.

An aside on misogyny

Of course, it wouldn’t be a public discourse without generous dollops of misogyny. It is common practise to dismiss women and their interests. Much mainstream media has been quick to ignore the sociopolitical overtones of his fandom, and disdain the admiration for Luigi as moral decay or delusional women wanting to save a bad boy – “I can change him!” What they don’t seem to realise is that his supporters don’t want to change him; he is considered quite perfect as he is. And if he did do the things he is being accused of, he is in fact the saviour.

What it ultimately all comes down to

…is respect.

The collectively constructed image of Luigi is of a man that has won everyone’s deepest most abounding respect. The fandom is so rabid because it is such a rare thing for women to truly respect a man. A man who is not only not a danger to us, but (allegedly) deadly to those who would hurt us. Who has known suffering and injustice and, rather than blaming and harming women, children, or oppressed minorities (yes, the bar really is that low), for once correctly identified a source of oppression and proactively (ALLEGEDLY) took action.

That, or he’s a sweet, nerdy innocent who is going through the worst time of his life with dignity and courage.

Women love their partners and fathers, brothers and friends, care about them, have affection for them, worry for them, fear them… but respect? True, deep, all-encompassing, unwavering respect? A heartfelt admiration elicited from wordless actions alone? Sadly, it is not too common.

And that is what makes Luigi Mangione an uncommonly attractive man. For better or worse, whether it’s based on truth or illusion… women respect him.

Read my next article: Luigi Mangione, the making of a modern martyr, which goes over the details of his case.