Luigi Mangione has been indicted in the fatal shooting of UnitedHealth Group executive Brian Thompson.
Thompson was shot with a silenced gun while he was stepping outside a New York restaurant after a private dinner party.
Luigi Mangione is receiving a lot of support from a section of netizens, and a GoFundMe campaign has also been initiated to cover his legal expenses.
A particularly disturbing trend has emerged as people are getting themselves tattooed with the face of Luigi Mangione and scenes depicting the murder.
They are also opting for tattoos of the Pokémon Breloom.
Luigi Mangione has been charged on 11 counts, and according to the New York prosecutor, it includes first-degree murder, acts of terrorism amounting to murder, possession of an illegal firearm, and falsifying identification documents.
Internet Reacts to Surge in Luigi Mangione Tattoos and Bizarre Symbolism
However, what has puzzled many is the ever-increasing number of admirers of Luigi Mangione, who have started getting tattoos of the accused and the murder scene.
A user has shared on X the tattoos which admirers of Luigi Mangione are getting etched on their bodies. The user wrote in his post:
“Some users are getting ‘Deny, Defend, Depose’ tattooed, while others are opting for Mangione’s face. One woman was inspired by the Pokémon character Breloom, which is on Mangione’s X profile.”
Luigi Mangione fans are getting tattoos of him on their bodies after he cowardly shot UnitedHealth Group executive Brian Thompson in the back.
Some users are getting “Deny, Defend, Depose” tattooed, while others are opting for Mangione’s face.
Luigi Mangione fans are getting tattoos of him on their bodies after he cowardly shot UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in the back.
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) December 17, 2024
Some users are getting “Deny Defend Depose” tattooed while others are opting for Mangione’s face.
One woman was inspired by the Pokémon… pic.twitter.com/aYHFKyETyt
What is “Deny, Defend, and Depose”?
The phrase is commonly used by health insurers to deny paying claims to the insured person. The three empty shells recovered from the site of the shooting had the three words separately etched on them.
The police have, however, not officially commented on the phrase, but it has sparked a huge debate on social media, especially among Mangione’s admirers.
Relationship between Luigi Mangione and Pokémon Breloom?
People are also getting tattoos featuring Breloom, the 286th Pokémon, as it happens to be the X profile of the suspected shooter. The internet is also rife with rumors about the eerie coincidence between the shooting and the number 286.
Some say that there were 286 posts on the social media handle of the shooter, others contend that it refers to Bible Proverb 28:6, which talks about the high-handedness of the corrupt and the elite. Some also say that it is a code typically used in the insurance industry to set time limits for appeals beyond which claims are not entertained.
Also Read: Online Defense Fund for Luigi Mangione Sparks Outrage and Support as GiveSendGo React
