Besides finding aliens underwater, mass-canceling celebrities, and standing up against world leaders, 2024 will be remembered as the year when society united to glorify an alleged criminal.

Luigi Mangione became an overnight sensation for reasons including but not limited to:

• Being the key suspect in the assassination of UnitedHealthcare’s CEO Brian Thompson.
• Being a Batman kind of villain.
• Being pretty.

The purpose of this article is to examine the human tendency to overlook or minimise harmful actions when an individual possesses physical attractiveness or when the alleged victim is seen as unsympathetic. This piece does not intend to condone, glorify, or judge the actions of the alleged criminals mentioned. Instead, it aims to present factual observations about societal behaviour and the psychological phenomenon of hybristophilia.

MANGIONE’S HALO EFFECT NURTURING AN INTERNET CULT OF STARSTRUCK FANS

The alleged CEO killer, aka ‘adjuster,’ gained sympathy in online circles with a poetic justice narrative surrounding his actions. Mangione became the face of America’s collective frustration toward corporate greed and the broken healthcare system. Although president-elect Donald Trump characterized the wave of support for Mangione as ‘sickness,’ the internet has dubbed him a ‘modern-day Robin Hood.’ Mangione is depicted as a brave vigilante who dared strike back against an untouchable system. People see him not just as a man, but as a symbol of rebellion.

Inmates at the Pennsylvania jail housing Mangione gave an unexpected interview to a TV reporter outside the prison, further fuelling his growing legend. Speaking live to NewsNation, they loudly voiced their support, answering questions shouted from the studio. Reporter Alex Caprariello had been covering Mangione’s prison conditions when inmates watching the broadcast began yelling back in solidarity – ‘Luigi’s conditions suck’ and ‘Free Luigi.’

Although his sharp jawline, pearl-white teeth, and charm certainly didn’t hurt. Mangione’s mugshot went viral within hours. By the time of writing, an ongoing fundraiser has amassed more than $120,000 for his defense and other legal fees. Online marketplaces took no time to release merch featuring his face, while songs like ‘Moma I’m in love with a criminal’ and ‘Anti-hero’ are resurfacing on TikTok.

THE HYBRISTOPHILIA PHENOMENON: PRETTY, DANGEROUS, AND IRRESISTIBLE

Much of Mangione’s appeal can be attributed to hybristophilia—a psychological phenomenon whereby individuals are romantically or sexually attracted to those who commit crimes. Often referred to as the ‘Bonnie and Clyde Syndrome,’ this attraction blends danger, rebellion, and physical attractiveness into an intoxicating cocktail too hard for the public to resist.

Mangione’s striking good looks play a central role in this narrative. His persona perfectly embodies society’s obsession with ‘bad boys’—men perceived as broken or misunderstood rather than outright malicious. For many, his criminal accusations only deepen the intrigue, crafting him into the ultimate anti-hero. Online fan communities romanticise his story, boiling down his alleged crimes into irresistible plot twists where Mangione is not a villain, but a leading man who needs “saving.”

The theme of “I can fix him” runs rampant in discussions surrounding Mangione, further feeding the hybristophilia phenomenon. For some, his flaws – whether real or made-up – are not off-putting behaviors but challenges, providing a sense of intimacy or purpose. This narrative has long been romanticised in literature, film, and pop culture, where the alluring criminal is framed as redeemable through love or understanding. Mangione becomes the perfect projection of this fantasy, his mugshot the catalyst for a thousand fan edits portraying him as both dangerous and vulnerable.

Social media has magnified hybristophilia like never before. TikTok edits worshipping Mangione’s mugshot gather millions of views, while hashtags such as #FreeLuigi trend worldwide. In the court of public opinion, his appearance has softened perceptions of his actions, fuelling a cult of adoration that dismisses his alleged crimes as mere distractions from his charm. As the narrative continues to evolve, it’s clear that Mangione is not just a person – he is a symbol, a story, and a dangerously irresistible fantasy.

PRETTY CRIMINALS THROUGH HISTORY: FROM MUGSHOTS TO MODELLING DEALS

Mangione is by no means the first to benefit from society’s tendency to idolize good-looking criminals. In 2014, Jeremy Meeks, famously dubbed the ‘hot felon,’ became an internet sensation when his mugshot went viral. Meeks’ chiseled jawline and piercing blue eyes catapulted him from convicted felon to fashion model and actor in what felt like a night. Within a year of his release, he was walking runways and gracing magazine covers worldwide.

The same phenomenon also reoccurred with Ted Bundy, one of America’s most notorious serial killers. The charm and clean-cut appearance misled many into seeing him as a misunderstood gentleman rather than a cold-blooded murderer. Media coverage during his trial further amplified his allure, with spectators flocking to courtrooms to catch a glimpse of him.

A similar obsessive fascination surrounds the Menendez brothers, convicted of killing their parents in 1989. Despite the brutality of their crimes, Lyle and Erik Menendez have gained a following over the years. Netflix’s The Confession Tapes, revisited their case and brought up questions about their upbringing and motivations. The brothers’ young, clean-cut appearances at trial, combined with sympathetic narratives, continue to spark debate and fandom-a true crime case once again blurring the line between justice and celebrity. More recently, Monster – yet another Netflix show covering the Menendez brothers’ story – received three nominations for the 2025 Golden Gloes, reminding us again that being naughty and pretty sells.