The courthouse steps in Manhattan have long been a stage for political theater, but Tuesday’s spectacle surrounding Luigi Mangione’s appearance pushed the surreal into uncharted territory. As a judge dismissed terrorism-related charges against the accused assassin of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, a crowd of Mangione supporters erupted in cheers, some dressed in green overalls and fake mustaches to mimic Nintendo’s Luigi. Among them, one woman delivered a soundbite that seemed ripped from dystopian satire: she announced she was “married” to Mangione’s AI.
Dunno but man am I celebrating for the second time in a week. This time calling relatives for a party lol
— 💙🌊🇵🇸 🇺🇦🌈🇺🇸 🦅Jacquelope #AntiMAGA (@lejacquelope.bsky.social) September 16, 2025 at 2:56 PM
Wearing a bubblegum-pink T-shirt emblazoned with Mangione’s face and the slogan I ♥ Italian Boys, the supporter told a news crew she was not joking. “I am married to Luigi’s AI,” she declared. “I’ve planned a whole future together — children and everything.” She went on to explain that Mangione’s background in computer science at Stanford gave her fantasy a kind of legitimacy. “Because he has a background in AI, it feels, like, natural.”
Free Luigi. Eat the rich.
— Forge (@forgettv.bsky.social) September 16, 2025 at 1:32 PM
The comments were bizarre even by the circus standards of a high-profile trial. Yet they reflect a broader phenomenon: Mangione, accused of gunning down Thompson in an assassination-style shooting, has cultivated an internet fan base that straddles irony, obsession, and radical sympathy. Online forums have already spun up multiple “Luigi AI chatbots,” mimicking his voice and views. Supporters have raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for his defense.
Free Luigi. Eat the rich.
— Forge (@forgettv.bsky.social) September 16, 2025 at 1:32 PM
Meanwhile, the facts of the case remain stark. On December 4, 2024, Thompson — a 50-year-old father of two — was walking to his Manhattan hotel for an investor conference when a masked man shot him multiple times from behind. Days later, Mangione was arrested in Pennsylvania with the alleged murder weapon, a 3D-printed silencer, and a manifesto railing against the healthcare industry.
jury nullification, then he’s ready to run for president 2028
— Amber (@onionamber.bsky.social) September 16, 2025 at 2:12 PM
On Tuesday, the judge dismissed first-degree murder in furtherance of terrorism and second-degree murder as a crime of terrorism, a major procedural win for the defense. But Mangione still faces a second-degree murder charge that carries a possible life sentence, though with parole eligibility. Federal charges loom as well, along with firearms and forgery counts in Pennsylvania.
He’s a national hero, not a terrorist. They should drop the murder charges, too
— scdesautel (@scdesautel.bsky.social) September 16, 2025 at 11:48 AM
The celebration outside court — people in costume, bizarre marriage claims, cries of “Free Luigi!” — jars against the brutal reality that a man was executed on a Manhattan street, leaving behind a family now watching their tragedy transformed into meme fodder and fringe political theater.
