Latest news with #FreeLuigi
Express Tribune
03-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Bill Burr fires back at journalists with bold remarks about Elon Musk and Luigi Mangione
Bill Burr has sparked controversy once again with his blunt remarks towards journalists who pressed him about Elon Musk and the Free Luigi Mangione movement. During the 2025 Mark Twain Prize for American Humor ceremony, Burr, who was there to support Conan O'Brien, found himself in the hot seat when asked about his opinions on these topics. Bill Burr refuses the media bait: "You journalists need to get your balls back" — COMBATE |🇵🇷 (@upholdreality) April 2, 2025 When questioned about the Free Luigi movement, Burr responded sharply, dismissing the inquiry by saying that he had already expressed his views and felt journalists hadn't done their homework. The situation escalated when Burr was asked about Elon Musk's role in government, a subject he has often avoided. Burr responded by saying he doesn't follow the news and doesn't believe it's a comedian's responsibility to address such matters. However, it was Burr's response to the journalists that really caught attention. He told them, 'You guys need to have balls again — which you don't,' criticizing their tendency to shy away from bold stances. Burr, known for his outspoken nature, made it clear that he believed journalists should take more responsibility for their own narratives, rather than relying on others to provide their opinions. Burr's comments continue to stir debate, highlighting his frustration with media coverage and his tendency to challenge societal norms. While his bluntness is part of his comedic style, these remarks are likely to spark further conversations about media responsibility and the role of celebrities in political discourse.
Yahoo
21-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
‘Free Luigi' Image Plastered on NYC Building Before His Court Hearing
An enormous image of Luigi Mangione covered a building in Manhattan ahead of his upcoming court hearing Friday. The image reads 'Free Luigi' and depicts Mangione as a saintly or Christ-like figure touching a heart at the center of his chest with a halo around his head. Mangione is the alleged assassin of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson and faces an 11-count indictment. The charges include one charge of murder in the first-degree and two charges of murder in the second-degree. He also faces weapon and forgery charges. Mangione pled not guilty. The image sparked tons of controversy and online discussion. One commenter who shared the image said, 'It's wild to see how the Mangione case has polarized people, some see him as a symbol of frustration with healthcare, while others focus on the gravity of the crime.' An online movement, with the slogan 'Free Luigi,' has developed around the 26-year-old Towson, Maryland native. There is even a Reddit community called r/FreeLuigi. Commenters celebrated him, saying, 'free my king' and 'This is beautiful.' Magione suffered from constant back pain and frequently complained online about negative experiences with the healthcare system. Mangione released a short manifesto explaining his actions, stating, 'Frankly, these parasites simply had it coming. A reminder: the US has the #1 most expensive healthcare system in the world, yet we rank roughly #42 in life expectancy.'
Fox News
18-02-2025
- Fox News
Luigi Mangione supporters whine about suspected CEO assassin's portrayal in 'corporate backed narrative'
Suspected UnitedHealthcare CEO assassin Luigi Mangione has a cult following that has not only donated hundreds of thousands to his defense, his supporters are also saying his prosecution for a murder caught on camera is part of a "corporate-backed narrative" and that the case against him is "unprecedented." This comes as mainstream media is ripped for buying into the hype. On Dec. 4, 2024, a masked assailant approached UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson from behind and opened fire. Surveillance video shows the cold-blooded attack and a female bystander running in fear as the killer nonchalantly walks off before taking a meandering path uptown through Central Park. Police have accused Mangione of being the man in the video. They say he made his way out of town and laid low until people at a McDonald's in Altoona, Pennsylvania, recognized him from a wanted poster and called police five days after the slaying. He was arrested while eating breakfast at the fast food joint, one of the most iconic corporate chains in the world. But online supporters continue to praise him as "a figure of humanitarianism" and "anti-capitalism." "Don't give in into this corporate backed narrative," reads a post on a Reddit forum, r/FreeLuigi, in which the author criticizes a new ID documentary, "Who is Luigi Mangione?" It received hundreds of upvotes and a few dozen comments, some urging supporters to donate to his defense and ignore reporting on the case. Mangione faces a slew of charges at the state and federal level, the most serious of which could carry the death penalty. Mangione is accused of "meticulously" planning the murder with the motive of igniting a "public discussion about the healthcare industry," according to the Justice Department. Federal prosecutors allege he stalked the victim, arrived in New York City a week in advance and scouted his surroundings. Police allegedly found his DNA and fingerprints near the crime scene and say he had a gun linked to the murder in his backpack when he was arrested days later. The NYPD released a still image from surveillance video, showing him pulling his coronavirus mask down and smiling while flirting with a clerk at the check-in of the Manhattan hostel where police say he stayed for the murder. It went viral and immediately attracted a wave of support online for the accused killer. Other r/FreeLuigi posts have described the accused assassin as a humanitarian and a "positive inspiration." The subreddit's description calls it a forum to "discuss healthcare reform and related topics" along with Mangione's criminal case. When officers approached, they immediately recognized him even though he was wearing a medical mask, according to court documents. However, he allegedly handed over a fake ID and gave a phony name. In his bag, police allegedly recovered the suspected murder weapon, a 3D-printed suppressor and the same fake ID used to check into the New York hostel. Police found shell casings at the scene with sinister messages written on them, "depose," "deny" and "defend," according to authorities. The words are similar to the title of a book critical of the insurance industry in which the victim was a key figure, "Delay, Deny, Defend: Why Insurance Companies Don't Pay Claims and What You Can Do About It." The alleged assassination happened right outside a hotel where Thompson, a married father of two from Minnesota, was supposed to attend a Wall Street shareholder conference later in the morning. But Mangione's supporters say the prosection is both "unprecedented" and a sign of government overreach. GET REAL-TIME UPDATES DIRECTLY ON THE TRUE CRIME HUB Even legal experts who do not number among his defenders have criticized the massive police presence at his perp walk, when he arrived in New York City via helicopter and was met by the mayor, the NYPD commissioner and dozens of officers in tactical gear. "The prep walk was just out of control," said Joseph Giacalone, a retired NYPD sergeant and criminal justice professor at Penn State-Lehigh Valley. "This isn't like you're walking the guy out of the precinct and you got to get him into a car. This was such a staged event." Typically, photographers line up outside a police building and hope to get a picture of a suspect as he is escorted by a couple of detectives to or from a police vehicle for a booking or court appearance. In Mangione's case, police set up a massive reception. The optics likely won't affect the case, Giacalone said, but some of the theatrics would have been better suited for the arrest of the Son of Sam serial killer, David Berkowitz. "They made a production out of it," Giacalone said, adding that having the tactical team present was actually a reasonable move due to Mangione's widespread support. Mangione comes from a wealthy family, attended a private high school and has an Ivy League bachelor's degree from the University of Pennsylvania. He has a top-tier private attorney. Supporters say they have raised nearly $300,000 for his legal defense.
Yahoo
11-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Luigi Mangione Accepts Nearly $300,000 in Crowdfunded Donations for Legal Defense
Luigi Mangione accepted more than $290,000 in crowdfunded donations to help support his legal team. More than 10,000 individuals made donations, according to a statement from crowdfund organizers, to help the man accused of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in December. 'Luigi is aware of the fund and very much appreciates the outpouring of support,' said Karen Friedman Agnifilo, the lead defense attorney for Mangione, in a statement. 'My client plans on utilizing it to fight all three of the unprecedented cases against him.' A rep for Agnifilo said she had no further comment. More from Rolling Stone UnitedHealth Is Sick of Everyone Complaining About Its Claim Denials 'Who Is This Guy?': Watch Trailer For New Luigi Mangione Doc Violent Online Group CVLT Coerced Kids to Self-Harm, DOJ Says A team of 15 volunteers, under the December 4 Legal Committee, led the crowdfund. A spokesperson for the organization said they're 'thrilled' Mangione accepted it. 'The American private health insurance industry has ruined countless lives by denying people access to basic care and burying families in medical debt,' said D4 Legal Committee spokesperson Sam Beard in a statement. 'It's no surprise that Luigi's alleged actions are understood and supported by tens of millions of hard-working Americans.' In the press release about the donations, organizers noted 'widespread support' for Mangione, pointing to the viral #FreeLuigi hashtag, which has led to a conversation around for-profit healthcare. (Singer Ethel Cain recently shared the hashtag #KillMoreCEOs in reference to the case.) Mangione pleaded not guilty to state murder and terror charges on Dec. 23. He's also facing two federal second-degree murder charges, as well as several weapons charges. If convicted, he could face life in prison without parole. He's currently being held at Brooklyn's Metropolitan Detention Center as he awaits trial. ID is set to air a documentary about the alleged murder suspect with interviews from individuals who knew Mangione personally, as well as with New York Mayor Eric Adams, NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny, and other experts on the case. Best of Rolling Stone Every Super Bowl Halftime Show, Ranked From Worst to Best The United States of Weed Gaming Levels Up
