Meme Warfare: Luigi Mangione and the Mainstreaming of Saints Culture
In the chaotic arena of online subcultures, memes have evolved far beyond simple jokes or viral images. They have become powerful tools for cultural dissemination, identity formation, and even ideological online warfare. This phenomenon, often referred to as "memetic warfare," uses humour, symbolism, pop culture, and mass appeal to shape opinions and influence behaviours on an unprecedented scale.
An example of this dynamic is the rise of ‘Saints Culture’, a growing online phenomenon blending admiration and reverence for lone terrorist actors such as Brenton Tarrant (Christchurch, 2019) and mass shooters such as Eric Harris & Dylan Klebold (Columbine, 1999) with modern digital aesthetics. Last month, this online community introduced a new member, Luigi Mangione, praised for the shocking murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO’s Brian Thompson. But this time was different as “Saint Luigi” no longer became a saint for a small niche online community. This culture has historically been limited to niche platforms like 4chan and Telegram. However, the case of Luigi Mangione marks a disturbing turning point in the mainstreaming of this online phenomenon.
Luigi Mangione: A new saint
Luigi Mangione, a 26-year-old American, became a world-famous figure in December 2024 following the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. Born in Towson, Maryland, to a Sicilian-American family, Mangione had no prior criminal history. Details of his life remain sparse, though his social media presence painted a portrait of a disillusioned individual deeply critical of systemic inequalities.
On the morning of 4 December 2024, Mangione shot Thompson in front of a hotel. The act was framed online as a protest against perceived injustices in the American healthcare system. Social media erupted with both outrage and unexpected support, with many praising Mangione’s actions. Fan accounts celebrating Saint Luigi appeared not only on fringe platforms like 4chan and Telegram but also on mainstream platforms such as Facebook and Instagram. The admiration for Mangione extended beyond these niche communities, with his “intelligence, heroism, and looks” with countless posts and comments on Facebook, X, Instagram, TikTok, etc.
The evolution of Saints Culture
Saints Culture began to emerge in the aftermath of the 2011 Oslo and Utøya attacks by Anders Breivik. Breivik’s meticulously planned act of terrorism, became a foundational moment for far-right extremists seeking to glorify violence.
Source: 4chan
This phenomenon later evolved and expanded mainly within the online accelerationist* ecosystem, where it crowned figures like Brenton Tarrant, the perpetrator of the 2019 Christchurch attack, as Saint Tarrant. Since then, a growing list of "saints" has been compiled, blending admiration for historical white supremacists with a fascination for mass violence.
The use of religious terminology to reference far-right terrorists is not new. Groups like the Atomwaffen Division have referred to figures such as Ted Kaczynski (Unabomber, 1975-1995), Timothy McVeigh (Oklahoma, 1995), and Anders Breivik (Oslo, Utøya, 2011) as a "holy trinity." Similarly, the incel community has sanctified mass murderers like Elliot Rodger (Isla Vista, 2014) as Saint Rodger. By 2020, a list naming over 50 "saints" circulated on Telegram, including figures with no clear links to white supremacy or terrorism, such as the Columbine (1999) shooters. This demonstrates that the fascination with violence itself often outweighs ideological consistency.
*Accelerationist terrorism refers to a form of extremist violence driven by the belief that societal collapse can be hastened through deliberate acts of chaos, such as mass shootings, bombings, or other forms of terrorism. Adherents of this ideology aim to accelerate the breakdown of existing societal structures to pave the way for a new order, often rooted in white supremacist or authoritarian ideals.
The mainstreaming of Saints Culture
The murder committed by Luigi Mangione marked a significant shift in the Saints Culture phenomenon. While the manhunt for Mangione was still underway, young men in Washington Square Park held a suspect lookalike contest, covered by a mainstream news crew. After Luigi Mangione was arrested, his supporters gathered with Luigi hats at the Pennsylvania courthouse to advocate his release, while others sold merchandise on webshops.
At the same time, fan accounts mushroomed across social media platforms like Reddit and Instagram, with hundreds of likes and supportive comments. A December 2024 poll by Emerson College revealed shocking statistics: while 68% of all respondents condemned Mangione’s actions, 60% of individuals aged 18 to 29 and 44% of those aged 30 to 39 did not condemn his actions, indicating a troubling normalisation of violence. This broader audience engagement represents a significant deviation from the nature of Saints Culture. Mangione’s deification extended beyond accelerationist forums, finding fertile ground among mainstream users disillusioned with systemic injustices. This mainstreaming amplifies Saints Culture’s reach and potential for radicalisation
The glorification of violent actors: risks, influence, and the mainstreaming of extremism
The sanctification of violent actors like Mangione poses serious risks. Historical examples, such as Brenton Tarrant’s admiration of Dylann Roof and Anders Breivik, highlight the possible inspirational effect of such glorification. Subsequent attacks, including the Buffalo shooting in 2022, demonstrate how this can inspire copycat violence, creating a dangerous cycle of radicalisation and action.
The inclusion of Mangione as a “saint” signals the evolution of this phenomenon into a more mainstream narrative. Unlike earlier examples confined to fringe platforms, Mangione’s glorification reaches wider audiences, embedding extremist narratives into broader cultural discussions on social media platforms. This mainstreaming not only normalises extremist ideologies and violence but also expands the pool of individuals susceptible to radicalisation and mobilisation.
Online spaces celebrating these figures act as catalysts for future violence, fostering echo chambers that glorify attackers while recruiting others to their cause. The glorification of individuals like Mangione transforms them into mythic symbols, perpetuating a globalised narrative of hate and violence.
The case of Luigi Mangione underscores the urgent need for proactive interventions to disrupt Saints Culture’s influence. As this phenomenon becomes more mainstream, its capacity to recruit, radicalise, and inspire violence grows exponentially. Addressing this dangerous trend requires a multifaceted approach, combining policy measures, technological interventions, and public awareness campaigns to counteract the normalisation of extremist narratives and violence before they claim more lives.