Walk into any college campus in late 2024 and you’d likely hear the name Luigi Mangione. But it wasn't just about the news reports. Within days of the arrest of the 26-year-old Ivy League graduate—accused of the brazen Midtown Manhattan assassination of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson—something weird started happening. People didn't just talk about the case. They started dressing like him.
Specifically, they started holding contests to see who could look most like the guy in the grainy surveillance photos.
Honestly, it's pretty jarring if you look at it from a traditional news perspective. Usually, when someone is accused of a high-profile murder, the public reaction is one of somber reflection or outrage. But for a specific slice of the internet, the reaction was… different. A mix of "pretty privilege," anti-corporate rage, and the kind of detached irony that only Gen Z can really pull off.
The Washington Square Park Kickoff
The trend sort of exploded into the physical world on December 7, 2024. This was in New York City, right in the heart of Washington Square Park. If that sounds familiar, it’s probably because the park had just hosted a massive Timothée Chalamet look-alike contest a couple of months prior.
But this wasn't a celebrity sighting.
Several people showed up at the fountain wearing the "uniform" of the shooter: a dark puffer jacket, a medical mask, and a backpack. Some even went further, wearing shirts that said "Deny, Defend, Depose"—the exact words reportedly written on the shell casings found at the crime scene. It was a flash mob of dark irony. Passersby were confused. Some were disgusted. Others were filming for TikTok.
Why the Luigi Mangione Look Alike Contest actually happened
You’ve gotta understand the "why" here, even if it feels uncomfortable. It wasn't just because the guy was an Ivy League-educated computer scientist who looked like he belonged in a J.Crew catalog.
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There was a massive undercurrent of frustration with the American healthcare system.
When Mangione was arrested at a McDonald's in Altoona, Pennsylvania, police found a handwritten "manifesto." It detailed grievances against corporate greed and the insurance industry. For a lot of young people struggling with medical debt or watching their parents fight for coverage, Mangione didn't just look like a suspect; he looked like a symbol.
At the University of Florida (UF) on December 12, 2024, hundreds of students gathered at the Plaza of the Americas. This wasn't a small, hushed group. It was a full-blown event organized by students like Cortney Smith and Chelsie Colin.
They used megaphones. They handed out cookies.
One contestant at UF even showed up with a Happy Meal and a makeshift gun prop. The prizes? A Nerf gun for first place, a date with the organizers for second, and a $5 McDonald’s gift card for third. It sounds like a comedy sketch, but it was real. One student told The Independent Florida Alligator that the healthcare industry had caused so much struggle that people were "celebrating someone who has done something that is a beautiful thing."
That's a heavy quote for a look-alike contest.
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It went global (and even weirder)
The Luigi Mangione look alike contest didn't stop in Florida or New York. It hit the University of North Texas (UNT), where contestants actually performed "creativity" rounds—which basically meant reenacting the shooting. The winner there was given a first-aid kit filled with gag gifts, labeled as "free healthcare."
Then, it crossed borders.
By late December, students at the Federal University of Minas Gerais in Brazil were holding their own version. A flyer for the event went viral on X (formerly Twitter), racking up over a million views. In the videos, you can see a shirtless guy who looks remarkably like Mangione being cheered on by a crowd of students.
The "Pretty Privilege" Factor
We have to talk about the "hot convict" trope. It happened with Jeremy Meeks years ago, and it happened here. On TikTok, creators like "GoobiGubbi" (Jake) went viral just for having the same curly hair and eyebrows.
One of Jake's videos—where his mom is literally yelling at him to take off the green jacket because he looks too much like a wanted man—hit 11 million views. People in the comments were half-joking about him showing up to the courthouse to provide "reasonable doubt."
Understanding the backlash
Not everyone was laughing. Far from it.
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Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg and other officials were quick to remind the public that this was a "premeditated, cold-blooded murder." Brian Thompson was a father of two. He was shot in the back while walking to a conference.
Critics, like New York Representative Ritchie Torres, warned that turning an accused assassin into a "mythical hero" was dangerous. He argued that it only feeds into the delusions of someone who committed a violent act. For the families involved, these contests weren't "ironic" or "absurd"—they were heartless.
What this means for the trial in 2026
As of early 2026, the legal battles are still raging. Mangione is facing heavy charges, including second-degree murder and weapons possession. The "terrorism" labels have been a point of massive legal debate, with some charges being dismissed by judges who argued the shooting didn't fit the strict legal definition of a "crime of terrorism" in New York.
The look-alike contests have mostly faded from the streets, but they've left a permanent mark on how we digest news.
It showed a massive divide in the country:
- The Establishment: Saw a domestic terrorist and a tragedy.
- The Counter-Culture: Saw a "folk hero" taking a stand against a broken system.
Actionable insights for following the case
If you're trying to keep up with what's actually happening in the courtroom versus what you see on social media, here’s how to cut through the noise:
- Track the Federal vs. State trials: Mangione is facing two separate legal battles. The federal case is where the death penalty was initially discussed, while the state case focuses on the act of the shooting itself.
- Look for the Evidence: Beyond the memes, the prosecution has surveillance footage, the 3D-printed gun found in Pennsylvania, and the "manifesto." These are the things that will actually decide the verdict.
- Distinguish between Satire and Support: Many of these contests were born out of a desire for "edgy" content rather than a literal endorsement of violence. Understanding that nuance helps explain why your TikTok feed might look very different from the evening news.
The Luigi Mangione look alike contest phenomenon was a weird, dark moment in internet history. It proved that in the age of viral memes, even the most serious crimes can be transformed into a costume—and that the anger behind those costumes is often very real.
For the latest updates on the trial proceedings in New York, you can follow the official press releases from the Manhattan District Attorney's office or federal court filings available through PACER.