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Shoppers were taken aback when they came across the listing for “Men’s New Spring/Summer Short Sleeve Blue Ditsy Floral White Shirt,” a breezy button-up, only to find Luigi Mangione showcased as the model. Considering Mangione is currently incarcerated in Brooklyn as he awaits trial, it’s logical to assume the image was either edited or created by artificial intelligence (AI).
After the listing went live and started circulating online, Shein quickly removed it from their platform. The company defended their position by stating that the image was not created or chosen by them but was instead uploaded by a third-party vendor, part of Shein’s daily influx of new products.
Shein also stressed that they took immediate action to remove the product, aiming to halt the spread of the image as interest in “Luigi Mangione Shein” skyrocketed on Google searches and screenshots went viral on social media.
Following the removal, Shein initiated an internal investigation to identify the source of the image and to ascertain whether it was generated by AI or digitally altered. The company is examining its screening process for third-party vendors and is committed to enhancing its monitoring systems, aiming to catch and prevent similar incidents in the future. Shein also stated it would take “appropriate action” against the involved vendor upon the completion of the investigation.
Who is Luigi Mangione?
Luigi Mangione is accused of the December 4, 2024, murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson outside a Manhattan hotel. According to authorities, Mangione, ambushed Thompson, firing shots from a 3D-printed gun with a homemade silencer before making his escape. He was apprehended five days later in Altoona, Pennsylvania, with a manifesto criticizing the U.S. healthcare system and evidence linking him to the crime, including matching fingerprints. He has been charged with multiple offenses, including various levels of murder, weapons charges, stalking, and terrorism. Mangione has pleaded not guilty, and federal prosecutors are seeking the death penalty, marking a first in federal executions since Trump allowed them again in 2025.
In the digital realm, Mangione has gained a sort of legendary status, particularly among young liberal Americans who view him as a figure representing opposition to the healthcare and insurance sectors. Since his incarceration, he has received financial support for his legal defense and a considerable amount of fan mail.
A factor contributing to this is his perceived attractiveness; aged 27, Mangione is considered by many to be good-looking and stylish.
Incidentally, this isn’t the first time Mangione’s image has been associated with fashion: Following his court appearance on December 23rd, netizens began to speculate about the brand of his burgundy sweater, which led to Maison Margiela trending online before it was later confirmed that he was wearing a washable Merino crewneck sweater from Nordstrom.
This “Mangione Merino” sweater quickly sold out.
After his court appearance in February 2025, images of his shackled ankles and brown loafers gained viral status online, with Google searches for “Luigi Mangione loafers” and “Luigi Mangione ankles” seeing significant increases. The surge in searches related to him and the Shein product is mirroring this trend.
